Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: Various Kashmiri Pandit organisations today warned the Government of any return move without taking the aspirations of the displaced community into consideration.
In a statement issued here Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) chief, Kundan Kashmiri while commenting on the reported statements that Government has mooted a proposal for return of over four thousand families to Valley said that such a decision is fraught with serious consequences. He said no decision on return and rehabilitation of community should be taken till the issue is threadbare discussed with community leadership both living in camps and non camps.
Kashmiri reiterated his demand of one place settlement by carving out Kashyap State within Valley with all institutional and constitutional guarantees. He regretted that during one week session of Assembly the restoration of Article 370 was a top priority for the NC in spite the fact that this Article was root cause of KPs genocide but the ruling party did not bother to bring a resolution on the return and rehabilitation of displaced KPs in Kashyap State.
Kashmiri also cautioned the community members of those self styled leaders and ‘social media tigers’ who are issuing misleading statements on return and urged the entire displaced community to join hands and thwart all such designs which are inimical to community interests.
Working president Jammu Kashmir National United Front (JKNUF), Rakesh Handoo has also expressed his dismay over the reported move and asked the Government to come clear on the return and rehabilitation issue of displaced Pandits in the Valley. He said that Pandits demand one time settlement with honour and dignity and no rehabilitation in groups or on individual basis will be acceptable to the community.
He urged the Government to take grassroot leave leadership into confidence and frame a concrete return and rehabilitation policy which can provide institutional and constitutional guarantees to the community and ensure that the return of the community should be with retention and there should be a guarantee that no mass exodus takes place once the entire community is rehabilitated in Valley. He rejected the cosmetic return formula if any.
He said when army is facing terrorist attacks talking about return of displaced Pandits is totally childish and any such move will boomerang.
Displaced Wing of Azad Democratic Progressive Party, president Sanjay Dhar and chairman P L Thusoo have also shown their concern over the reports and said that the Government if really is interested in rehabilitation of displaced People it should start from camp people first who are leading a miserable life for last 35 years.
They said any return plan in peace meals can’t be acceptable to community and demanded that the Government should frame a concrete policy in this regard by ensuring settlement of entire community in Kashmir in accordance to their geo-political aspirations and ensuring guarantees for future.
They also demanded the central Government should issue a white paper on the issue and clear the apprehensions of the community.
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