Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: Kashmiri Migrant Relief Holders and Over-aged youth held a strong protest demonstration in front of Relief Organisation Office here, today against what they called the failure of successive governments in resolving the problems of displaced over-aged youth from the Valley who are the worst sufferers of the three decade long turmoil and official apathy.
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The protestors alleged that the authorities and the establishment at the helm of affairs have not felt the pain of exiled Kashmiri Pandits whose mass exodus is the biggest tragedy in the modern history. They said the most existential problems of the community has been ignored which has suffered an immense loss due to terrorism and genocide. The Government which failed to give them protection and ensure their security in the Kashmir Valley has been so callous to these hapless people that it has even denied them the right to live.
A meager amount of relief can’t guarantee them a dignified and honourable life as the community has lost its entire property after the mass exodus. How long the educated youth who were denied jobs and ignored in other welfare schemes announced by the Government from time to time for the people of the erstwhile State over these years will remain dependent on the meager cash doles when their future is totally bleak, they added.
The speakers said there is no Government policy to look into the problems of these hapless people nor any steps are being taken for their honourable and dignified rehabilitation by the Government despite the fact that Kashmiri Pandits contribution to Indian aesthetics and other fields is immense.
The protestors demanded that the displaced over-aged youth who have suffered over last three decades be given a compensation of Rs one crore each for the damages and losses suffered by them due to exodus and also the monthly relief be enhanced to Rs 25,000 per family for their immediate survival.
The protest was led by Kuldeep Pandita and Ravinder Koul and large number of displaced youth drawn from camp and non camp areas attended it. They were with placards and banners in their hands reading “the real victims of terrorism will not tolerate more atrocities and the displace Pandits were subjected to worst kind of human rights violations”. The protestors also raised slogans in support of their demands and warned to intensify their struggle to take it to logical conclusion.
They said the Government should not test their patience any more and instead take measures to redress their problems and put balm on their wounds.
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