Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) representatives led by its national vice president Dr R L Bhat today discussed the various issues being faced by the displaced Pandits with Ashok Koul, BJP general secretary (Org).
The return of Pandits was the main issue which came for discussion in the meeting.
The JKVM representatives stressed on meaningful deliberations need to be taken on issue. The module of scattered habitations, proposed by the State Government had been totally rejected by the community. Any discussions and allocations should be on the basis of a viable module acceptable to the community. The delegation demanded that a representative of the community, acceptable to the community and concerned with the vital issues be nominated to take care of the problems faced by the exiled people.
Other issues discussed were the denial of RBA status to the deserving members of the exiled community. Likewise the Apex Body was turned into a free for all conglomeration for show purposes only. The Apex could not attend to any of the problems of the community and the commitments made were brushed aside.
JKVM demanded formation of a serious body of representatives which would be compact and meaningful and not a jumbo omnibus to carry passengers.
JKVM said that recruitment under the Prime Ministers package had been delayed through manipulated orders. Besides the State has practically denied these citizens of Kashmir now living in exile their share in the regular State recruitments. The same should be restored. The delegation pointed out that only a third of the exiled community, who had no source of income were getting the relief and even that had been kept at a very low level. The delegation emphasized that the State Government should not wash its hands off the exiled community. They said the attitude of the State Government to forward all the demands of the exiled people to the Central Government started by the previous Government was a virtual denial of the rights of these people. Though an increase in the relief had been announced the orders for the same had not been issued, leaving the people where they were. Ashok Koul assured the delegation that he appreciated the concerns and that the problems faced by the community would be solved.
The other members of JKVM representatives included national general secretary H L Bhat State president, Bushan Lal Bhat general secretary Pranji Pandita, and other prominent JKVM members Ashok Kangan, M L Bhat, Shibanji Hokhu, R L Malla, Ashokji Batargam and Tej Sagar.