Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) led by its president R. K. Bhat organized a conclave here today in which well known, community leaders participated.
Prof. A. N. Sadhu Columnists & Economist presided over the function while H. N. Jattu president – AIKPC, B. L. Saraf (retd. Session Judge) P. L. Koul Badgami – convener, KHC, A. K. Diwani writer and ex MLC, B. L. Bhat were the guests of honour.
The welcome address was read by Sanjeev Koul, Member Core Committee, Manoj Handoo, general secretary – YAIKS presented vote of thanks. The stage was managed by P K Raina. Others who addressed the gathering including Sanjay Ganjoo, Ajay Safaya (secretaries of YAIKS), Vimal Raina, Sunil Bhat, Ajay Chaman, Rakesh Fotedar, Rakesh Bachloo, Nidhi Saproo, Princy Koul. Sonia Bhat, Simi Ji and Anita Ji.
R. K. Bhat in his address said it’s quite unfortunate that a microscopic, peace loving and nationalist community of KPs is living in 29th year of its exile and is still in the search of homes and hearths, it belonged to.
“Why Pandits are being neglected,? Is there no place for them in this nation? We have got no answers and no Justice till date, and how long this will go” he asked?
He said “we the Kashmiri Pandits, a lost community and perhaps at one level a last generation are suffering a great travesty”,. It’s unfortunate on the part of Indian democracy, leadership and secularism that we are still living as refugees in our own country” and are being totally neglected.
“It seems, there is no political will to ensure our permanent resettlement and comprehensive rehabilitation,. The Government of India as well as the State Government has miserably failed to protect the fundamental rights of Pandits,. The successive governments have only sent out feelers of rehabilitation packages but have never drawn any comprehensive long term plan for repatriation of KPs”, he added.
He said “we are holding temporary ration cards in our hands for last 29 years in this democratic country, and how long it will go”,?
Bhat, said that U.N. has declared Kashmiri Pandits as internally displaced community as they have suffered the trauma of being uprooted from their environment and land scattered into realms of confusion and hostility, disengaged from their culture and heritage links, deprived of any participation in policy making even with regard to issue of relief, rehabilitation and not to talk about any political empowerment.
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