The Modi government has announced enhanced compensation for civilian victims of terror and have said that Pakistan Occupied Kashmiris, who are also our people, can claim this compensation too.

This comes days after Narendra Modi raised the issue of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in his Independence Day speech.

Also Read: Modi stumps Pakistan, refers to Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK from Red Fort

ANOTHER BOLD MOVE

Minister of state for PMO, Jitendra Singh, announced compensation for civilian victims and said "Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmiris are an important part of India and they can also claim such a compensation."

He said, "By the virtue of the Constitution of India, rules also apply in that part of the country which is occupied by Pakistan. Those residents are also our people and are victims of similar condition."

The statement comes after Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation to the civilian victims under the scheme titled "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist/ Communal/Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory".

The compensation had been increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHEME For the first time, civilian victims of cross border firing along the Indo-Pak border will be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh similar to those who die due to terrorism or LWE violence. The decision to give compensation to the victims of cross border firing and enhancing the amount was taken by the government today. From now on, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim. Rs 5 lakh will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons. The compensation amount will be given subject to the condition that no employment has been provided to any of the family members of the victims by state or Central Government. So far, the government has disbursed Rs 35.89 crore as compensation to civilian victims since the inception of this scheme first came in 2008.

Also Read:

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Pakistan says Modi crossed red line by mentioning Balochistan, India says it's your own fault

