Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: Panun Kashmir, its Youth wing and Kashmiri Pandit Conference have strongly opposed the statement of senior BJP leader Ashok Koul on the return of KPs to Kashmir valley.
Panun Kashmir and Youth 4 Panun Kashmir, firmly rejected Ashok Koul’s statement, which dangerously shifts the responsibility of ensuring Kashmiri Pandits’ (KPs) return from the state to the very majority that oversaw their exodus. This distorted mindset undermines both justice and governance and contradicts the fundamental principles of the Indian Constitution.
Dr Agnishekhar, Convenor, Panun Kashmir, strongly objected to Koul’s remarks, stating: “The return of Kashmiri Pandits is a Constitutional Right, not a matter of local consensus. India is a Sovereign Democracy, not a system where majoritarian approval dictates who can reside where. If a persecuted community’s return is conditioned upon the acceptance of those who once stood by as they were driven out, it is an admission that the government has failed in its duty.”
Rahul Kaul, Chairperson, Apex, Youth 4 Panun Kashmir said,” State authority exists to uphold justice, not to negotiate with persecutors. If an anti-national ecosystem was strong enough to force KPs into exile, why should the government hesitate in using legitimate state power to facilitate their safe return? Governance is about enforcing the rights of all citizens, not seeking permission for their rehabilitation.”
Koul’s statement is deeply problematic because it implies that Kashmiri Pandits can return only if the local majority “allows” them to, which in effect legitimizes the very displacement they suffered. This kind of rhetoric is unfair to thousands of displaced families who have been waiting for three decades to return home.
The Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) expressed deep disappointment and pain over the statement made by BJP general secretary (Org-J&K), Ashok Koul, suggesting that the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley depends on the acceptance of Kashmiri Muslims. Such a remark is not only insensitive but also an injustice to a community that has suffered unimaginable pain and loss for the past 35 years.
Kundan Kashmiri, president KPC stated that the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 was not a matter of social alienation but the result of targeted killings, persecution, and terrorism. It was an act of ethnic cleansing that tore apart families, shattered lives and forced an entire community into exile. .
KPC president stated that Kashmiri Pandits are the original inhabitants of Kashmir, with an unbroken connection to its land and history. Our return should not be framed as a matter of social goodwill but as a constitutional and national obligation. It is the duty of the Government of India to ensure our safe, dignified and permanent return with full security, political and legal guarantees. KPC urged the BJP leadership to immediately clarify their stand on this issue.
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