Martyrs’ families decline HPCA relief offer
Martyr Sanjeevan Rana’s wife and daughter break down in Dharamsala on Tuesday. Photo: Kamaljeet
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, February 16
“Don’t insult us,” said the families of martyrs Jagdish Chand and Sanjeevan Rana, who attainted martyrdom in the terror attack on Pathankot airbase while reacting to the recent proposal of the HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma.
The HPCA spokesperson, in press conference on Sunday, had said that the HPCA would consider donating the income generated from the T20 World Cup India-Pakistan match scheduled at Dharamsala on March 19, to the families of the martyrs. He had said that the matter would be discussed in the meeting of the HPCA governing council.
The families of the martyrs visited the war memorial at Dharamsala today and declined the proposal of the HPCA. “We won’t accept anything from the India-Pakistan match as it would be an insult to the soldiers who had laid down their lives fighting a proxy war against Pakistan. Whatever the Indian and the state government had given to us was enough” said Pinki Rana, wife of martyr Sanjeevan Rana.
Shivani Rana, daughter of Sanjeevan Rana, said, “We shall support anyone who sits on fast during the India-Pakistan match at Dharamsala on March 19. We are not being misguided by anyone. It has been just a month since my father and many bravehearts of the Indian Army laid down their lives at Pathankot fighting terrorists. In such a scenario we cannot tolerate the Pakistan national flag flying high at Dharamsala that is just like home for us. We oppose the India-Pakistan cricket matches not only at Dharamsala but also anywhere else in the country”, she said.
Rajat Naryal, son of martyr Jagdish Chand who was also awarded Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace time gallantry award, said the India-Pakistan bilateral dialogue was suspended after the attack on Pathankot airbase. India has asked the Pakistan government to apprehend the culprits who perpetrated the attack. Why the cricket match between both the countries was so important? he asked.
Shivani Rana also said that BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur has not found time to visit the families of martyrs. However, he was defending the cricket match at Dharamsala not caring about the aggrieved families of martyrs.
Following a campaign led by deputy advocate general of Himachal Vinay Sharma against the India-Pakistan match, the HPCA had accused Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh of abetting the kin of martyrs for protests.