NEW DELHI, Apr 1: Amid fresh debate over the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir after the recent release of film ‘The Kashmir Files’, a Private Member Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha today to ensure rehabilitation of the community, which also provides for giving minority status to them in J&K, and a white paper on the issue.
The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022 was introduced by Congress MP Vivek K Tankha. It aims to provide for social, political and economic rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.
The Bill also provides for protection of their property, restoration of their cultural heritage, ensuring their safety and security, provision of rehabilitation and resettlement package to them and for matters.
The Bill provides for granting minority status to Kashmiri Pandits, declaring the community as victims of genocide and changing their official nomenclature to ‘Internally Displaced Persons’.
It also provides for releasing a white paper on the issue of Kashmiri Pandits documenting all events in the Kashmir valley pertaining to the atrocities and plight of the Kashmiri Pandits starting from the year 1988.
For the white paper, the Bill has provision for creating a high level committee, comprising a retired Chief Justice of India as the Chairman, two retired Judges of the Supreme Court of India, two sitting Members of Parliament, two former Members of Parliament, four sitting or former Members of Legislature/Council of Jammu and Kashmir and four other individuals as may be nominated by the Advisory Committee as members.
“The Government, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish an environment of economic justice, prosperity and security, for Kashmiri Pandits,” the Bill said.
It provides for creation of an appropriate corpus fund for the purpose of grants to be given to five thousand small or cottage industries owned by Kashmiri Pandit, land and other capital expenditure, interest free loans and other assistance.
It also provides for sanctioning an enhanced medical allowance to those who are economically weak and in need of medical attention as well as provide insurance coverage to all Kashmiri Pandits.
The Bill has provisions for restoring religious places and other heritage belonging to Kashmiri Pandits, and measures to ensure their safety and security, and setting up an Inquiry Commission to investigate atrocities against Kashmiri Pandits.
“Thirty-two years ago, what took place in Kashmir on the night of January 19, 1990 lives fresh in the minds of Kashmiri Pandits as a night of barbarism, terror and mass killings. Kashmiri Pandits suffered the horrors of genocide and exodus at the hands of militants, thousands were brutally killed, women were raped, houses and temples burnt, lives disrupted,” Tankha said in the statement of purpose and objectives of the Bill.
“This inhumane attack on life and honour of a minority population, who were inhabitants of the region for thousands of years, led to a complete breakdown of law and order and forced them to leave their motherland, their culture, and their homes behind. Most could never return. Over six lakhs Kashmiri Pandits still live in exodus and yearn to return and resettle in their motherland,” he said.
A private member’s bill is a bill introduced into a legislature by a legislator who is not a part of Government. Only 14 such bills have been passed by both Houses since 1952. (UNI)
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