Among several disadvantages inflicted on the displaced community of Kashmiri Pandits, one is of depriving them by hook or by crook of the right to cast votes and elect representatives of their choice. The Pandits were forced out of the Valley in 1990. They had to face big trauma once they were out of the valley. The first and foremost task before them was to get themselves registered somehow that they are the displaced persons from Kashmir valley. This was a nightmare for them. Anyway they got themselves registered in official records wherever they were.
Many hurdles are created for them to be enlisted in the electoral rolls when the Government allowed them to cast vote at their present places for a candidate who had filled the form from their respective constituencies. The eligible displaced persons were required to vote for the candidates of their respective constituencies without knowing them. Not only that, with the passage of time many displaced persons expired and they had to be removed from the voter list. But during last 27 years many displaced young boys and girls attained maturity and crossed the age of 18 yet they are not included in the voting list.
A delegation led by MoS in PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh met with the CEC and convinced him that the voter list of the Kashmiri migrants needs to be revised and updated. Furthermore, the question of M Forms that has become a huge impediment in the path of the displaced persons for casting their vote is an unnecessary and meaningless exercise. The delegation impressed upon the CEC that this cumbersome process should be done away with or replaced by a simple system. Credit goes to the MoS who has taken due cognizance of this matter and has raised the matter with proper authorities in New Delhi. We hope that the EC will give the displaced persons from the Valley a sympathetic and just treatment and ensure that they are not deprived of their right of casting the precious vote.
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