Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, May 18: Despite assurances from the Government, Kashmiri Pandits today demanded relocation outside the Valley as they feel the security environment is not right for their stay here.
Following the killing of Revenue Department employee, Rahul Bhat, in Budgam district on May 12, the minority Pandit community has been protesting across Kashmir.
Scores of Kashmiri Pandits today gathered inside all the migrant colonies of the valley and in a public park in Srinagar’s Batwara area to protest the killing. Protesters displayed photos of Bhat and raised slogans such as “we want justice”, “relocate us to safer places” and “remove unconstitutional service bond”.
They said that the assurances made yesterday by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole, to protesting Kashmiri Pandits appear to have been limited to paper because nothing is apparent on the ground.
“The Divisional Commissioner and IGP paid a visit to the protest sites yesterday, giving the impression that the demands had been met. Where have they gone if the demands have been met? If the demands had been met, we would not be protesting here with our families in the sweltering sun. I believe they are just confined to paper,” a protestor said.
He continued that security forces make contradicting assurances about their security and that recent events in the Valley have led them to fear that they are not safe in the Valley. “On the one hand, IG claims that security will be given, while DG claims that providing security to every individual is unfeasible. Who will believe them? What kind of security are they referring to? A burqa-clad militant threw a grenade into a wine shop yesterday. How will Pandits, who are more vulnerable, be safe if other inhabitants are not safe?”, he asked.
The protestors argued that how can security forces safeguard the minority community when they themselves are being killed and are insecure? “The IG claims to be able to provide security for us, but how can they do so if their own soldiers are in danger? How was SPO Riyaz Ahmad killed, and why was he not saved? How can the cops provide security if they themselves are not secure?” the protestors asked.
The protestors said that they will continue to protest until their demands are met. “We will continue to protest here till the JK administration and the Union Government meet our demands. PM package was offered to rehabilitate Kashmiri migrants who had moved away from their homeland. They must provide a safe atmosphere for us if they have brought us here. How can we work here if there is no safety? We will continue to protest until our demands are not met,” the protestors said.
The protestors said that their lives should be given priority, not the work contract. “We were asked to give various things in writing when we were given jobs, but the bond does not apply here and is less significant than our lives. We are not slaves or bonded labourers. We are slaves of our country and willing to serve wherever in India, but we do not want to lose our lives in the process,” a female protestor said.
The protestors said that the recent development demonstrated that their situation was untenable and that measures such as putting couples in the same office would have no effect. “Couples working in the same office are not a viable option because they must still commute to work, and relocation is the only option,” another female protestor said.
She added that the Manmohan Singh, led Government at Centre had announced 6000 posts for Pandits when the PM packages began, but the then-CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, introduced the bond item. “However, that clause should have expired when J&K was made UT,” she said.
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