Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Sept 22: The Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), the Valley’s largest Pandit group, has gone on a fast-unto-death to press for their demands and seek Government attention for their resolution.
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The group has taken the step to get noticed by the Government as they felt overlooked by the administration. The group comprises representatives from 808 Kashmiri Pandit families, who remained in the Valley despite the migration of most of the community members because of the outbreak of militancy in the 90s.
Among the primary demands of the body are 500 government jobs for Kashmiri Hindus residing in Valley, which they said, had been promised to the community through a High Court ruling in 2016 and directions passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The other demands include inquiry against officials for allegedly stalling relief of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits, monthly financial aid and accommodation to community members staying in the Valley.
President KPSS, Sanjay Tikoo, said they assume that Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department are punishing them for staying back in the Valley. “Despite multiple directions from High Court and recommendations from the Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Relief Department is halting the process,” he said.
Other concerns include monthly support for families who are battling to make their both ends meet because of COVID-19. “Many families are suffering for a meager source of income,” Pooja, a protestor said.
Another protestor, Bupinder Jamwal, lamented that despite repeated communications to the concerned officials the files are stuck. “On August 17 we met the Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha, and submitted a memorandum. Even after the passage of over 20 days, nothing has happened,” he said, adding that they cannot fathom reasons behind the delay in advertising the posts.
The protestors said that their numbers would swell if the administration doesn’t meet their demands. “The numbers will swell if our demands are not met. I think they are punishing us for not migrating from Kashmir. Had we migrated we would have really got the posts under PM package,” Amrit Koul said.
Meanwhile, the fast unto death started by the representatives of non migrant Hindus entered the third day here, today.
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