JAMMU: Congress today held a protest against the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir for its "failure" to control cross-border firing.
Led by former minister and General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee Manjit Singh, Congress workers in large numbers held a protest in the bordering R S Pura town and burned the effigy of Pakistan. They were also carrying anti-Pakistan placards and raised slogans against Pakistan.
"The government has totally failed to secure the life of common people living on the borders," Singh said.
Protesting over the unabated firing from across the border causing loss of lives of innocent people and injuries to the civilians, the Congress leaders said the worsening situation on the border was a cause of serious concern.
"The hollowness of policies of present government on this front is evident from the fact that more than 700 ceasefire violations have taken place during the period of 14 months, since the Modi government took over," he said.
Congress demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in cross-border firing, Rs 20 lakh to permanently disable persons and Rs 5 lakh to the injured persons.
They also demanded the government to immediately fulfil the promise of allotting 5 marla plots to the identified population living along the International Border and Line Of Control to accommodate them in safer zones.
The Congress leader also demanded that 4 per cent reservation in government jobs should be given to the residents from Pargawal to Lakhanpur in Jammu as the same is granted to those living along the border areas in Kashmir.