Ahead of Vijay Diwas celebrations, the porters who helped the army during the Kargil war once again demanded government jobs on Sunday.
The porters had carried ammunition and medical, and foodsupplies in the tough terrains of Batalik, Dras and Kargil sectors amid heavingshelling during the war.
“After the war ended, we were felicitated with appreciationcertificates. We were also assured jobs by the army, but the promises havefallen flat. Twenty years on, we are still waiting to be appointed ingovernment offices,” Romesh Kumar, President, Jammu and Kashmir Porters’ Union,said.
Lashing out at successive governments, Kumar said, “Duringthe Kargil war, 10 porters were killed while performing duties. Their next ofkin were provided financial aid as well as a government job. But the governmentforgot the rest of us.”
“Recently, some of us (porters) dragged the authorities tothe court. Subsequently, five or six of us were recently engaged by the army.If they were recruited, why not the rest?” he asked.
The porters appealed to the concerned authorities to lookinto their issue and redress their grievance.