Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 12: Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, Senior BJP and KP Leader, along with another senior KP leader, Utpal Kaul, International Coordinator, Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) in a joint letter to the Chairman, Delimitation Commission of India, New Delhi have asked for Constitutional measures to ensure Kashmiri Pandit representation in the J&K Assembly and Rajya Sabha.
The two leaders made reference to presentation submitted to the Commission on March 26 this year at New Delhi and later in July 2021 at Jammu. A number of documents were also submitted to it, they added. They said the case of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities of Kashmir is a unique one which the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution would have never visualised. Since living as refugees in their own country and belonging to the Kashmiri Valley as its indigenous people, it is important that their issue is put on priority while finalising the draft.
They said that the Commission is working on the basis of the terms of reference and the J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019, therefore, the issue of the Pandit community needs to be viewed from a broader perspective. Accordingly, as their case has a strong and valid substance, so the proposal draft on delimitation may include their reference in it for inclusion by taking up a Constitutional measure by the Government and the Parliament.
They said the delimitation issue will test the intent of the State towards the displaced community of Kashmiri Pandits, Kashmiri Sikhs and the non-Kashmiri speaking Hindus of Valley living in exile for the last over three decades. It is the question of their socio-political existence in a State the foundations of which were laid by their forefathers in the past history.
The letter further said the displaced community in the hour of their crisis is looking forward for collective justice and fairness. This is possible by a clear reference to the Government of India for taking up the required Constitutional measures in line with the Sikkim ‘Sangha’ example, Pudducherry Assembly model of nominations, erstwhile Parliamentary representation for Anglo-Indian community or the nomination of two women members to the Assembly as it existed in the J&K Assembly.
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