Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 9: To discuss the return and rehabilitation issue and other problems of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the Union Home Ministry convened a meeting with representatives of various displaced Pandit organisations in New Delhi today.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States,Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS Home, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary, Union Home Secretary, Additional Home Secretary and other officers.
However, no representative from State Government was present in the meeting which MoS Home termed an informal chat with the representatives of displaced Pandits that will be followed by a formal meeting soon.
According to sources, the Pandit representatives strongly advocated for grant of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) status to the exiled community rather than migrants and ameliorating the sufferings of the community.
They also demanded constitution of an Apex Committee of all organizations working on ground level and drafting of a blue print for the safe and honorable return of the displaced people to the Valley fulfilling social, political and economical aspirations of the community.
They also demanded that making Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) is of paramount importance for the safe and dignified return of the community.
During over one hour-long meeting, the Pandits apprised the two Union Ministers about the problems being faced by the community in day-to-day affairs and sought Central Government’s assistance in resolving them.
They demanded that a guideline declaring Kashmiri Pandits as ‘internally displaced persons ‘ should be issued soon and objected to the term “migrants”.
The Pandits told the Ministers that the response of the Government to the uprooting and sufferings of an entire minority community was, is and has been one of “callousness and indifference”.
They said, out of 6,000 jobs promised under the Prime Minister’s package, only about 2000 odd jobs have been provided. Requesting that the rest of the jobs may be provided at the earliest without any unfavorable conditions, the Pandit representatives urged that these jobs should be provided by the Central Government instead of the State and without any conditions.
Proper, dignified and secure facilities for the stay of the Pandits in Kashmir should be created instead of the transit accommodation, the KP representatives told the Ministers. They also demanded that employment be de-linked from return. Besides, a package for overaged displaced youth who are the worst sufferers of turmoil, passage of Shrines and Temples Bill, bifurcation of ration cards in Delhi and improving conditions for PM package employees and construction of townships in Jammu and Delhi for displaced people.
Those who attended the meeting include representatives of Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, Sampooran Kashmir Sangthan, Kashmiri Pandit Conference, All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj, Roots in Kashmir, Kashmir Samut, etc.
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