Sir,
Past few weeks have been a witness to a growing debate on return of Kashmiri Pandits to the home of their origin. The debate has moved from being passionate to absurd.
When Kashmiri Pandit left the Valley their life and living was woven around their settlements in their homeland. They would go to places of worship, activities of business, jobs, educational institutions, agriculture fields without fear of being harmed.
The return plan discusses jobs and transit accommodation. It fails to address issues of education and worship. But most importantly it fails to address the issue of “fear.” Any Kashmiri Pandit thinking of returning back has a deep seated fear which opposes his very thought of return.
Unless the concerns of an average Kashmiri Pandit regarding his security are addressed, the return will remain a slogan on the paper.
Involvement of all stakeholders in this process is the key. The Govt should involve them, listen to them and then only plan ahead.
And the plan needs to be comprehensive with a view that KPs across the world have full faith in the plan. Kashmiri Pandits from across the world will then be more than willing to return and settle back in the land of their ancestry.
Yours etc….
S N Raina
Jammu
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