Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: A delegation of Panun Kashmir (PK) today met Director Census here today and submitted a memorandum seeking proper recognition and enumeration of displaced Kashmiri Pandits as internally displaced genocide victims and survivors in Census 2027.
The delegation was led by Dr.Aqnishekhar – convener Panun Kashmir and comprised Sanjay Raina its senior leader, M.K.Dhar -media secretary, PK, Bhushan Lal Bhat – coordinator Grivience Cell, Bitooji Bhat coordinator Jagti Unit, Bebooji Zutshi – senior leader PK and Hari Krishen Kaul .
It stated that Census 2027 cannot be treated as a routine statistical exercise in relation to the displaced KPs and asserted that the manner in which the community is classified and recorded would shape future Constitutional recognition, restitution, reparation, rehabilitation and policy response.
PK objected to any attempt to classify the displaced community merely as “migrants,” stating that migration implies voluntary movement, whereas the displacement of KPs arose from genocide-affected conditions marked by targeted killings, intimidation, collapse of institutional protection, large-scale fear and failure of the State to secure life, liberty, dignity and property.
It demanded that displaced KPs be identified and enumerated as internally displaced genocide victims and survivors and not merged into generic migratory categories.
The memorandum sought recording of original place of residence within the Kashmir Valley for every displaced family and individual, preservation of territorial and demographic linkage between the displaced community and its homeland within official records, separate and identifiable demographic enumeration of the displaced community, recording of duration, continuity, inter-generational nature and cause of displacement arising from genocide-affected conditions and State failure, census mechanisms sensitive to prolonged displacement, demographic rupture and inter-generational exile, use of census data for future Constitutional, reparative, restitutive, rehabilitative and restorative measures concerning internally displaced genocide victims and survivors.
The delegation also demanded that every displaced KP be territorially linked in census records to his or her original place of residence in the Valley so that the demographic and civilizational continuity of the community is preserved within official records.
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