‘5868 migrants provided jobs in Kashmir’
1300 migrant political workers’ relief stopped: Dy CM
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 25: Cutting across the party lines, majority of the Legislators including those from the ruling party today exerted pressure on the National Conference-led Government for taking all possible measures for the dignified return of Kashmiri migrants to Valley.
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The issue dominated the proceedings in the House today with majority of the Legislators including those from BJP, NC, Congress, PDP, CPI (M), AAP etc, pleading for the honourable return of the Kashmiri migrants including Pandits to their homes and creation of favourable environment for them in Kashmir. They said that KPs are part of the Kashmir society and without them that society was incomplete.
While responding on behalf of the Chief Minister who is Minister In-charge Relief, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Dy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that National Conference-led Government wants all the Kashmiri migrants, including Pandits, back in their homes in the Valley. The efforts are on, in collaboration with the Centre, in this direction, he added.
Choudhary was infact, replying to a question by CPI(M) Member MY Tarigami and subsequent supplementary questions by various members during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly today. He remarked that, being a member of a family which was a victim of partition in 1947, he fully understands the pain of migration. He assured the House that the Government would do whatever is best for the displaced people from Kashmir.
“There is pain in the heart of NC president Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and people of J&K for Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated from the Valley in 1990s. Tarigami’s concern is the concern of all of us,” he stated.
“National Conference, whenever remained in power, started steps for their dignified return while the Central Government also announced packages for their rehabilitation from time to time. The NC government wants them back in their homes respectfully with proper security arrangements and our efforts, in collaboration with Central Government, are on in this regard,” Choudhary said.
The Dy Chief Minister said that Government would ensure rehabilitation of migrants belonging to other communities as well. He disclosed that 5868 migrants have been provided jobs while over 6000 flats are being constructed for them in Kashmir. Out of them, 3120 flats have been completed.
“Such thing (migration of Kashmiri Pandits) should not have happened in the first place, but it happened and efforts were made to provide them relief. I want the Government to keep their return and rehabilitation on their agenda,” the CPI(M) leader said.
He, however, demanded inclusion of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits in the employment package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the community and questioned why they have been deprived of such an opportunity when they also had to leave their homes in the villages and settle in Srinagar.
“There are also nearly 1300 political workers belonging to other communities who also migrated to Jammu but their monthly relief was stopped two years back. A committee was formed in 2024 and this issue needs to be looked into,” he said, questioning the alleged double standards while providing relief to migrants.
NC’s Showkat Hussain Ganai invited the attention of the Government towards the plight of a Kashmiri Pandit family which migrated from the Zainapora constituency in 2023-24 after a terror attack that left one person dead and another injured who, he said, also died six months later.
“They were provided accommodation in Jammu after the attack but are being deprived of other benefits provided to Kashmiri Pandit migrants. I met the Relief Commissioner and pleaded their case but was told that it cannot be done as there is a ban on it. This should be looked into,” the NC MLA added.
NC’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Altaf Kaloo, Saifullah Mir and Justice Hasnain Masoodi also pleaded for compassionate review of the cases of migrants belonging to other communities whose relief has been stopped, while BJP’s Narinder Singh Raina and Balwant Singh Mankotia extended benefits to other migrants, including Kashmiri Sikhs and the residents of Talwara in Reasi.
Raina also referred to the SRO 425 and said that the word non-migrant Sikhs and Hindus be included in it. He said members of the minority Sikh communities in Kashmir should also be included for providing benefits under migrants quota.
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