Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 29: After deliberating with its affiliate organisations, members and KP organisations, All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) released the Vision Document for the eventual return and rehabilitation of displaced KP community to Kashmir at a well attended virtual conclave.
The conclave was presided over by the president, AIKS, Dr. Ramesh Raina. It had eminent persons as panellists which besides, Dr.Ramesh Raina included Tarun Vijay former MP and Chairman Monument Authority of India, Ashok Bhan senior advocate Supreme Court of India, Dr.Krishna Bhan president IEKF(UK) and Dr.Archana Kokroo president KOA (USA).The meeting was moderated by Vinod Pandita joint secretary AIKS.
The meeting began with Dr Raina’s presentation who said that In today’s age of enlightenment, Kashmir is without Kashmiri Pandits and this January 20,2022 the uprooted KP community entered 32 years of its forced displacement.
The main features of the paper focussed on return and restitution of the KP community so as to ensure that they are never subjected to another displacement. It therefore had to be in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Working Group on Internally Displaced Persons in conformity with the secular democratic philosophy of the Indian State, he said. He touched upon the brief areas of concern in regard to rehabilitation which exiled Kashmiri Pandits deserves being a victim of genocide, ethnic cleansing and persecution at the hands of terrorists in Kashmir Valley. Those included restitution, White Paper, physical space in the Valley, minority status, Temples and Shrines Bill, minority reservation, punishment to perpetrators of genocide, Commission of Enquiry, Kashmiri Pandit Consultative Body, CBMs for residual KPs in Kashmir and hike in monthly cash assistance. The points presented were well received by the panellists.
Tarun Vijay expressed his pain and anguish at the plight of the exiled KPs and expressed his full confidence in the Indian Nation to help the beleaguered community to rebuild their lives in Kashmir once again. The rise of fundamentalism and radicalism in Kashmir were the biggest enemies of the humanity and it had no place in India.
Ashok Bhan reiterated the inalienable right of KP community to return with honour and dignity. Expressing satisfaction over the vision document but desired to have three satellite townships at the major district headquarters instead of one.
Dr.Krishna Bhan and Dr Archana Kokroo extended their full support to the follow up and assured that the overseas KPs too will play a meaningful role in mitigating the sufferings of people affected by the exodus.