Punjab CM promises adequate relief for Iraq victims

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday promised adequate compensation for the families of those abducted and killed by the Islamic State in Iraq's Mosul.

He also reiterated his demand for the central government to also recompense them since the tragedy had occurred overseas.

The Chief Minister, on compassionate grounds, also ordered immediate release of Rs 20,000 as monthly pension to each of the bereaved families for February and March this year, waiving off the condition of quarterly payouts.

The Deputy Commissioners have been asked to disburse the pension amount immediately, he said.

Dismissing as false the allegation made by Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia that the families of the victims had not been paid compensation for the past six months, the Chief Minister said payment had been made till January 31.

With the release of the next two months' pension, the payment was now completely up to date, he added.

Talking to reporters at the Assembly here, he clarified that the government had been paying the monthly pension to 24 families, of which it so far had information.

Earlier, the Chief Minister informed the House that as per the information received from the Ministry of External Affairs there are 27 victims from Punjab, of whom 11 hailed from Majha region and 11 from Doaba. The remaining were from other parts of the state.

Intervening in a discussion on Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira's calling attention to extend adequate financial assistance to the next of kin of the bereaved families, the Chief Minister told the House that all criteria for compensation is such matters would be duly followed by his government.

He said his government would not indulge in any politics or arguments with the Centre on grant of compensation but stressed that it was the Central government's responsibility to also provide financial assistance since the killings took place outside the country.