J&K assembly passes resolution to bring back Kashmiri Pandits

KPSS figures reveal that 637 pandits were killed by the militants since 1990, including the mass massacres of Kashmiri pandits at different villages at different times, while the state government figures reveal that only 219 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in the state since 1989

Arnima Dwivedi
Published on: 20 Jan 2017 4:27 AM GMT
J&K assembly passes resolution to bring back Kashmiri Pandits
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J&K assembly passes resolution to bring back Kashmiri Pandits

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir assembly unanimously passed the resolution for the homecoming of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and others migrants to the Valley after 27 long years.

The resolution was moved by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Working President of National Conference Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday and was also supported by ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Omar Abdullah had said in the assembly, "All of us should come together and pass a resolution so that Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs and even Muslims who left Kashmir due to the turmoil can come back to their homes. It has been 27 years since they left the valley and we all should rise above politics and pass a resolution for their comeback."

Senior PDP leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs of the state Abdul Rehman Veeri also supported the resolution saying there is a need to bring the people back.

Awami Ittehad Party supremo and MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed, however, opposed the resolution arguing that since no Kashmiri is against the return of Pandits, there was no need to pass a resolution.

"If Omar or Mehbooba is really concerned, they should speak about those migrants also who were forced to migrate to other side of the LoC. The resolution is nothing but an act to appease Kashmiri Pandits and give a notion that the issue of return of migrant Pandits is the only burning issue," he said

Pandit's reaction:

  • Vinod Pandit, President of All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), an apex body of migrants said, "The resolution is better late than never. But at the same time, the government has to take the Kashmiri Pandits into confidence. When the issue of a separate colony was raised, the separatists opposed it. We need a political and economic rehabilitation."
  • It may be recalled that the organisation held a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on January 19 to mark it as the Black Day on completion of 27 years of their exodus from the Valley.
  • Hindu Raksha Dal, a right wing organisation, warned the government that the movement could turn violent if its demands were not met.

The demands:

  • Initiation of a dialogue with Kashmiri Hindus by the Centre as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government.

The Kashmiri Pandits' exodus from the valley:

  • Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits had left the Valley after the onset of militancy in 1990.
  • Official figures reveal that around 41,117 migrant families from Kashmir are registered in Jammu and 21,000 others in Delhi and other states.
  • Out of the total migrant families living in Jammu, 37,128 are Hindus, 2,246 Muslims and 1,758 Sikhs.
  • As per the reports of Kashmir Pandit Sangrash Simiti (KPSS), an apex body of non migrant Pandits,there are 808 Kashmir Pandit families comprising 3451 people who did not migrate from the Valley at the onset of militancy in 1990 and live at 232 different places in Kashmir.
  • KPSS figures reveal that 637 pandits were killed by the militants since 1990, including the mass massacres of Kashmiri pandits at different villages at different times, while the state government figures reveal that only 219 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in the state since 1989.

Arnima Dwivedi

Arnima Dwivedi

A journalist, presently working as a sub-editor with newstrack.com. I love exploring new genres of humans and humanity.

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