JK News Today
Jammu, February 02:
Seeking humane approach towards resolving the issues confronting to over six lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Minority Cell today exhorted the Centre to chalk out a time-bound roadmap for their safe, honourable and dignified return as per the aspirations of the stakeholders.
“The forced and painful exodus of the microscopic minority community continues to haunt the nationalist KPs who continue to be refugees in their own country for the past over three decades”, the Charter of Demands adopted at a high level of the community functionaries under the Chairmanship of Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here stated, reminding the present dispensation at the Centre to keep up the promise of facilitating dignified return of the Kashmir Pandits, who had leave all their movable and immovable property behind during the painful and forceful displacement from the Valley.
NC Minority Cell President M K Yogi highlighted the key points of the Charter of Demands amid overwhelming applause from the participants from camp and non-camp migrant dwellings.
Besides the Provincial President, the special meeting of the Minority Cell was addressed by the former legislators Mohd Ramzan Choudhary, Abdul Majid Larmi, Altaf Ahmed Kalloo, Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Justice Tanqeer, Javed Ahmed Dar, Adv Shabir Kulley, Peer Afaq and Bushan Lal Bhat, addressed the day-long conference. They assured that they will ensure that points raised in the meeting are taken in a proper forum and readdressed according to the wishes of the migrants.
The Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta described the migration of Kashmiri Pandits as a blot on the glorious ethos of Jammu and Kashmir which is known the world over for its inclusiveness and harmonious co-existence. He also enumerated the measures taken by the National Conference during its various spells of governance for ameliorating the lot of the displaced community.
Gupta hoped that the administration will take a call on the pressing issues facing the unfortunate people and resolve these earnestly.
The Charter of Demands, inter-alia, seeks the involvement of all the stakeholders including intellectuals besides heads of KP social and philanthropic organizations; enhancement of monthly relief assistance from meager amount of Rs 13000 to 25000 per month as the current amount is too meager to make their livelihood in present times of inflammation; creation of 10,000 posts for the educated unemployed youth of displaced community as the unemployment among KP youth is on the rise; compensation to over aged educated and unemployed youth who are running from pillar to post in exile for sustenance of their livelihood.
The Charter of Demands also emphasizes the crucial need of political reservation for the 6 lakh Kashmiri Pandits living in exile in Jammu and elsewhere in the country. It also seeks strict implementation of J&K Immovable Property Act 1997 and passage of the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines Management Bill.
M. K Yogi expressed anguish over the pitiable condition of the displaced families putting up in the government camps like Jagti, TRT Nagrota, Buta Nagar, Purkhoo and non camps in Jammu, Udhampur and other parts of the country. He sought provision of all the basics to the displaced population till their return back to their homes and hearths.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included: Amit Koul, Naveen Gosami, Ashok Koul, Umesh Talashi, Dr. Amina Sheikh, Neelam, Daisy Buzar, Chandra, Sunita, Raj Brli, Ashok Koul, Chand Ji Pandita, Harminder Singh, Ashwani Bhat, Sumit Bhat, Anjali Tickoo, Sanjay Bhat and others.
