Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 19: The Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) held a convention here today to deliberate upon the “future of next generation of Kashmiri Pandits”.
Prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders, social activists, intellectuals and youth participated in it. Padamshri Dr K N Pandita was the chief guest on the occasion while as H.N. Jattu, B L Saraf, (retd Session Judge), P L Koul Badgami, Swami Kumar Ji, Uttpal Koul and Murarji Koul were the guests of honour.
The community leaders are pledged to launch a sustained struggle for the restoration of our lost identity and political, social, economic and cultural rights of exiled Pandits in the State said Padamshri Dr K N Pandita. He further said that the convention was organized in the backdrop of fast deteriorating political and economic profile of KPs and the unabashed neglect demonstrated by the successive Governments at the State and Central level. The leaders of the community also identified major areas for sustained struggle and discussed the present political scenario of the community.
Dr Pandita and others unanimously declared R K Bhat as leader of the community to lead it community on all fronts. Dr Pandita also honoured R K Bhat on the occasion.
Pt. R. K. Bhat, chief YAIKS in his key note address said that the Displaced Pandits will never forgo their claim over Kashmir; “KPs’ are an inalienable component of the civil society of Kashmir valley,. Our organization has already devised a strategy in this regard, he added”. The convention called upon the Government and various political parties to make their stand clear regarding future of displaced Pandits. They should categorically mention in their election manifesto as to what political space they would allow to the displaced community if they come to power.
Bhat said it’s unfortunate in this democratic country that for last 30 years we are casting our vote in favour of Valley based candidates and are living outside the Valley. The convention appealed the Election Commission of India to ensure that every displaced Kashmiri Pandit who had to leave Kashmir owing to militancy and disturbed conditions in 1989-90 stood included in the voter list of the Assembly segment to which they originally belonged to. The voters list thus prepared should be displayed at all the offices of the migrant zonal officers and in the Govt. websites.
YAIKS urged the Commission to abolish the M-Form exercise for migrant voters, to seek political empowerment and reservation for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in State Legislature and in Parliament. YAIKS nominated 46 coordinators, who will represent 46 Assembly segments of all the 10 districts of Kashmir Valley, they originally belong to.
On this occasion three community stalwarts were felicitated with “Gash Taruk” Award – 2019 for their outstanding contributions in different fields. They included Dr K N Pandita P L Koul Badgami and Uttpal Koul. The programme was compared by P. K. Raina welcome address was given by Manoj Handoo, general secretary while as vote of thanks was presented by B L Dhar advisor YAIKS.
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