Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 2

“Politicians forget the promises made to the families of martyrs. They come to hog limelight at the time of cremation of martyrs and make announcements,” said Komal, daughter of Sanjeevan Rana, a soldier who attained martyrdom in 2016 on this day while defending the Pathankot Indian Air Force (IAF) base from terrorists.

Sanjeevan Rana from Siyunh village in Shahpur area of Kangra district and Jagdish Chand from Gola village in Sihunta area of Chamba district were two soldiers from Himachal who attained martyrdom on January 2, 2016 while fighting terrorists who had attacked Pathankot IAF station.

Ironically, on the Martyrdom Day of the bravehearts these are just the families that remember the martyrs.

Komal, daughter of Sanjeevan Rana, said when her father attained martyrdom a host of politicians came to express remorse. They promised a government job to a family member. However, till date none of the three children of Sanjeevan Rana has been given government job by the state government.

“Our brother after failing to get a job from the state government has joined the Indian army. The family has been pleading with government offices for a government job to my elder sister for the past about four years without any success”, Komal alleged.

She further said that political leaders promised that Government College, Chatri, would be named after her father and a park would be made in his memory. “However, till date neither the college has been named after my father nor the park developed”, she said.

“Shanta Kumar, former Chief Minister, who was earlier a BJP MP from Kangra, had given a grant for installing a tube well and a hand pump in our village in the name of my father. However, neither the tube well nor the hand pump has been installed”, alleged daughter of Sanjeevan Rana. She also said that former minister GS Bali had given a grant of Rs 3 lakh for improvement of facilities at the village cremation ground. However, the funds have been diverted to the adjoining village.

Bindu Rani, village pradhan, alleged that many schemes announced in the name of martyr Sanjeevan Rana had not been implemented as government has not provided land for them.

The family of Jagdish Chand, the other martyr in terror attack, had demanded that the road to their village should be metalled. The residents of Goha village, most of whom were serving in the army, had to walk about two km to reach their village. However, despite announcements by various politicians the demand remains a distant dream.