Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 21: A delegation of All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) led by its president, Ravinder Pandita, called on the Registrar General, Census in Government of India in New Delhi today.
The delegation demanded that during the next census to be undertaken by Government of India in next year, the community may be counted as distinct identity as a displaced person. “We should be treated as the reverse minority as the Kashmiri Pandit community is termed as majority in the country while it is minority in the UT of J&K. The census with distinct identity will help us in getting the exact figure of the displaced community which has faced exodus in 1990 and prior to that. It will also help in return and rehabilitation schemes for the Government as well”, said Ravinder Pandita.
The Registrar General accompanied by senior officials assured the delegation that the demand will be looked into as per norms and in the meantime asked the community to garner a consensus on terminology of Kashmiri Pandits as ‘ migrants”, “displaced” or ” refugees’.
The nomenclature or terminology will have to be fixed by the community, said Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General GOI.
The AIKS delegation also included its general secretary, Sunil Koul, vice presidents, Arun Shali and Rajinder Premi, besides Kusum Shishoo Women’s Wing and activist Amit Raina.
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