Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Expressing concern that both State and Central Governments have done very little to reverse the process of genocide and rehabilitate the displaced community in Kashmir, during last three decades of exile, the BJP MLC, G L Raina in a statement issued on the eve of 30th Holocaust Day today said this dealt a serious blow to the aspirations of the Pandits, who are determined to return to the land of their origin and ancestors
He said for restoration of confidence of the community the Government must institute a Commission of Inquiry at the earliest to look into the whole issue of targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989-90, and subsequent exodus from Kashmir. It must also reopen prosecution cases against self-proclaimed killers who are roaming free in Kashmir. Besides. the people in administration who are misusing their official positions to undermine ethnic cleansing of an entire civilizational continuity by manipulating data and concealing facts be taken to task.
It further demanded eviction of illegal encroachments of left over properties in Kashmir Valley belonging to both individuals as well as to the community in the form of temples, shrines, cremation grounds etc is crucial.
He said the employment avenues provided to KP unemployed youth through various packages announced by the Government from time to time remain largely unimplemented. The process needs to be completed at the earliest. It was in the year 2004 that Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by the Government of India recommended creation of job opportunities for the displaced youth. The proposal was further concretised in the year 2008 under PM package with an approval of creating 15000 jobs out of which 6000 were to be absorbed in Government and 9000 were self-employment opportunities. All this has got entrapped in bureaucratic red-tapism and the result is that even in 2019 the number of actual jobs provided on ground has yet to cross 3000 mark.
Raina said extension of welfare scheme benefits to the displaced community is another issue that requires kind attention of Government.
Demanding formation of Board for protection of Hindu religious places, shrines and temples in Valley, he said they are symbols of KPs civilization and hence be protected for posterity.
Maintaining that the displaced Kashmiri Pandits are the greatest stake holders in their rehabilitation in Kashmir, he said it is they who must have the maximum say in deciding on the modalities of return and its methodology.
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