Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 24: A meeting of prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders held in Delhi NCR discussed core community issues and the apathy and neglect shown by the successive political parties to their pressing issues.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Ramesh Raina, Prof. SudhirSopory, Ms. Alka Lahori, Puran Patwari, Uma Kant Kachru, SK Bhan, Bansi Razdan and AK Koul. The leaders highlighted the lack of progress on promises made by the political class over decades, including the safe and dignified resettlement of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, unemployment among the youth, and preservation of their cultural heritage.
Dr. Ramesh Raina senior community leader said that the political parties have repeatedly failed to address our core concerns, adopted discriminatory attitude and policies, while adding that the lack of effective protection and support from the authorities constituted glaring examples of keeping the displaced community outside the ambit of many welfare schemes because they are scattered outside the State. He said that it goes to the resilience of the community who have shown utmost courage in navigating, three decades and counting, years of cruel displacement and criminal betrayal of political class. Paying glowing tributes to their grit, Dr Raina said that while building their new lives across India, the challenges faced by them to preserve their cultural identity continues to dominate their social lives.
He said to remain steadfast in their demand for justice and rehabilitation for the Kashmiri Pandit community. The community is advocating for a permanent settlement in the Valley, ensuring their return to their homes and hearths, concrete steps for the preservation of their cultural heritage, reference made to change the names of sacred Hindu sites such as Shankaracharya Hill as Takht-i-Sulaiman and Hari Parbat as Koh-e-Maran not acceptable. This tantamount to revisionism that seeks to erase the region’s Hindu heritage, establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for civil society, as also recommended by the Supreme Court, passage of Temples and Shrine Bill for the control and management of KP temples, shrines and their Cultural centres, ensure well-being of PM package employees and those KP’s who did not leave Valley in the wake of terrorism and thereafter.
He also demanded the improved living conditions in the people living in migrant camps in different areas in Jammu. All the other speakers including Professor SudhirSopory echoed similar sentiments, besides demanding implementation of AIKS Ambala declaration of 2023.
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