Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) Jammu, held an executive committee meeting today under the chairmanship of its president, K K Khosa, to discuss the prevailing political scenario in the Union Territory, particularly concerning the upcoming J&K Assembly budget session. The meeting highlighted the aspirations and unresolved issues of the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community.
Expressing disappointment, the members criticized the Union Territory Government, led by Omar Abdullah, for excluding the KP community from pre-budget consultations, a process in which all other stakeholders were reportedly involved. The Sabha pointed out that, given the pending nomination of two MLAs from the community by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, it would have been appropriate to engage community representatives to understand their concerns and aspirations.
The Sabha voiced concern over the continuous neglect of the community’s issues despite being in exile for the past 36 years without any representation in the Assembly. Members argued that the exclusion indicates a lack of seriousness on the Government’s part regarding the return and rehabilitation of the community, as promised in the National Conference’s manifesto.
The meeting emphasized the pressing challenges faced by the displaced community, including livelihood, housing, health and employment problems. The Sabha urged the UT Government to allocate necessary provisions in the forthcoming budget to address these concerns effectively.
In light of difficulties in securing an appointment, the Sabha has decided to forward a memorandum outlining their demands to the Chief Minister via email.
Prominent members present at the meeting included Deepak Dhar, Rajinder Tiku, V K Mukhi, Asha Kitchloo, Subash Dhar, B B Bhat, Satish Khoda, S K Koul, G J Kampasi, S L Bagati and V K Bakshi.
Follow our WhatsApp channel