Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 5: Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) struggling for the rights of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in general and community youth in particular held a massive protest rally here, today.
The irate activists of the organization with pla-cards and banners in their hands were shouting slogans against the apathy of Central and State governments towards them.
The rally started from Relief Commissioner’s Office near Canal and passed through Canal road, Krishna Nagar, Jewel Chowk , Tawi bridge, Bikram Chowk, University road before culminating at Divisional Commissioner’s Office.
The rally was led by R K Bhat, president YAIKS. The rallyists also blocked Tawi bridge and disrupted the movement of vehicular traffic . At Divisional Commissioner’s Office the protestors demanded settlement of the long standing issues of the displaced Pandits in general and youth of the community in particular by implementing the PM’s employment package in letter and spirit and settling the other problems of the package employees by providing them the required accommodation and other facilities as was promised by the Government while announcing the package.
Later Divisional Commissioner called the representatives of the organization and after hearing their problems he assured them that the matter will be recommended to the concerned quarters for appropriate action and settlement of the demands.
The YAIKS representatives demanded that the PM’s rehabilitation package needs to be restructured, redesigned , relooked and revised after proper discussions with the representatives of the Organisation.
R K Bhat, president YAIKS while addressing the protestors said that there is no political will to ensure permanent resettlement and comprehensive rehabilitation policy for displaced Pandits. He said the Government has sent the feelers of rehabilitation package but has never drawn any comprehensive long term plan in this regard. “ We have no unique identity and we are holding temporary ration cards in our hands from last 29 years in the largest democracy of the world’’ .“How long will this continue and how many years more the community has to face this trauma’’, he asked?
Bhat said during last three decades of KPs forced exodus, the Government of India has announced many packages for the community and PM’s Return and Rehabilitation Package announced in 2008 is one of them. But not even five percent of this package has been implemented in last 10 years which is totally unfortunate, he added.
He said so far a package of Rs 1640 crore, Rs 5000 crore and Rs 2000 crore was earmarked by the GoI but not only 10 percent of the same has been implemented on ground. The non implementation of the package has again exposed the evil designs of the political parties and their apathy towards hapless people who are nationalists to core.
The protestors made an appeal to Governor to sanction more 3000 job package for displaced Pandit youth in addition to 6000 PM package posts for the left over candidates. Besides, Governor was requested to issue directives to the concerned agencies not to reserve SC/ST/ ALC/OCS posts unnecessarily in the package meant for displaced KPs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
