Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 22: Reiterating that their return was not possible at scattered places or district headquarters in Valley, the Kashmiri Pandits are hopeful that the new Union Government led by Narendra Modi will review the PM’s rehabilitation package for migrants announced by former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in 2007.
The Kashmiri Pandits leading an exiled life in Jammu and other parts of country feel that return of Pandits to Valley with “honour and dignity” has become a phrase which every politician is using repeatedly but on ground no efforts were made by successive Central and State Governments in last 25 years in this regard nor concrete steps were taken to save the immovable properties of the community from clutches of anti social elements.
Terming that PM’s rehabilitation package has many flaws, the displaced Pandits are of the opinion that it failed to find any takers from the community and hardly any migrant family has applied for return under this package so far.
However with the new Union Government led by Narendra Modi which will assume the office on May 26 has made it clear that return of Pandits was top on the list of Home Ministry, majority of displaced Pandits are hopeful that Mr Modi will review the PM’s rehabilitation package and give serious thought to community’s aspiration in this regard.
They said that Government should give serious thought to its aspirations as they have many apprehension regarding the rehabilitation policy which is bereft of guaranteeing security to the community from terrorist attacks in future on their rehabilitation in Valley.
Maintaining that Pandits were not averse to return, convener JKNM and a well known political analyst, Dr K N Pandita said there is a civilizational vacuum in Kashmir after mass exodus of Pandits and Kashmir has become a challenge to the philosophy of Indian National State.
Recalling the last meeting of leaders of various KP organizations led by him with Mr Modi at Union Capital on January 19 the 25th Holocaust Day, he said the leaders of JKNM, JKVM, RIK, KSD, AIKS and KHC had submitted a memorandum to BJP stalwart at that time demanding establishment of twin city adjacent to capital city of Srinagar for the settlement of displaced Pandits there.
The memorandum also highlighted the targeted killing of Hindu minority in Valley that led to mass exodus resulting in a change in Kashmir’s demographic profile and blatant religious cleansing as admitted by in its report on human rights in Kashmir by International Commission of Jurist, Zurich in 1995.
Besides, it highlighted that the change of demographic complexion in Kashmir is corroborated by Department related Parliamentary Committee on Human Affairs in its 137 report and also submitted a copy on National Human Rights Commission report which has admitted that mass exodus of Pandits was akin to genocide.
The memorandum has also made it clear that PM’s package does not contain a single word about the political dimensions of return of displaced Hindus. The scattered return module in clusters is separatist elite strategy therefore stands rejected.
Pandita said the memorandum also proposed a new module of raising a new city of Srinagar on the basis of satellite twin city for all displaced people, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims etc to strengthen the philosophy of Indian Nation State.
This was the only viable solution to the problems of the displaced Pandits and only way out for their honourable and dignified return to Valley, said Surinder Ambardar another political analyst. He said the return will enrich the composite culture of Kashmiri for which majority of Kashmiris are equally craving for and return of Pandits will give an economic boost to Valley.
Maintaining that Panun Kashmir (PK) stands by carving out of a separate homeland within Valley for over seven lakh displaced Pandits, PK President Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said that those who are harping on the slogan of resolution of Kashmir need to be separated from the issues of KPs.
He said the displaced Pandits want complete Indian ethos and presence in Kashmir. “We want free flow of the India Constitution and without the constraints of Article 370” The Pakistani interference in the affairs of Kashmir and its support to the terror machinery has to end completely, he added.
Suggesting that return to scattered places was not possible and Government should discuss the community module regarding one place settlement near Srinagar city, Dr R L Bhat, senior leader JKVM said this can be a security guarantee against any other flare up and an assurance to Pandits against any future attack.
Dr Bhat who also opposed settlement at district headquarters said that rehabilitation of this miniscule minority at district headquarters will make them lame ducks.
The return to Valley was not possible under prevailing circumstances as Pakistan continues to be involved in terrorist related violence in Valley, said Kundan Kashmiri president KPC who demanded reorganisation of J&K State with carving out of Kashyap State for Pandits within Valley.
The return of Pandits was not possible unless and until Government of India tells Pakistan and separatists in categorical terms that Kashmir is a settled issue and the only dispute is on the portion of J&K held illegally by Pakistan and after the abrogation of Article 370.
The new Government needs to give serious thought to the issue and seek opinion of experts within community on the return of Pandits to Valley said Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC) chief ML Thusoo.
The return of KPS to Valley is hanging for last 25 years because of casual approach of the successive governments and this was the main hurdle in its way, said KHC convener P L Koul Badgami.
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