Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 19: A delegation of All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) led by its president, Ravinder Pandita called on Union Minister in PMO with Independent charge of Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi today.
The AIKS president handed over a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister on the eve of 36th Exodus Day highlighting the demands and plight of Kashmiri Pandits, who had to leave their homes and hearths in 1990.
AIKS delegation also got special issue of NAAD on eve of Exodus Day released by the Union Minister. The delegation comprised of Kusum Shishoo ( Women’s Wing), Ajay Thussu and Shrawan Pandita besides President AIKS.
The memorandum while highlighting the plight of displaced Pandits demanded passage of a Parliamentary resolution on the permanent rehabilitation of displaced Pandits besides granting of minority status to the community. It said either the Government should pass the resolution on its own or support the private member Bill introduced by Vive k Tankha MP Rajya Sabha.
The memorandum also demanded political empowerment for Kashmiri Pandits. It, while welcoming Delimitation Commission’s decision to reserve two Assembly seats for displaced Kashmiris, demanded that internal community elections be held under Government supervision before nomination for the reserved seats.
It further demanded that a transparent mechanism be established through a democratic process to elect representatives as MLAs preventing manipulation by vested interests and authentic community leadership should be encouraged to emerge through this process. This approach will empower KPs and ensure their voices are represented in the Assembly.
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