Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 23: Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has expressed the hope that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will translate its election manifesto into reality and will not confine it a poll promise only.
In a statement issued here, today GKPD spokesman Kashi Akhnoon said his organisation expresses its heartfelt appreciation for the commitments laid out in BJP election manifesto. The inclusion of rehabilitation initiatives such as the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana, the promise of temple restoration under the Rishi Kashyapa Pilgrimage Rejuvenation Drive, the provision of two reserved seats for Kashmiri Pandits in the State Assembly through the delimitation process, the continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, have been positively received by the community. These steps reflect BJP’s acknowledgment of the unique struggle and aspirations of the Kashmiri Pandit community that is facing near extinction, he added. “We would encourage your party to advise the Lieutenant Governor to go ahead and implement these recommendations right away which will have an electric impact on the upcoming elections,” the statement said.
Elections are democracy’s way of incorporating citizen concerns. GKPD urged its community members to vote for those political parties which will proactively take up their cause. In this regard the beginning steps outlined in BJP’s manifesto, while highly commendable fall considerably short of community expectations. Rehabilitation and Resettlement through a welfare initiative approach risks that it can be stopped or reversed in the future and thus at best will be a temporary provision. All parties including the BJP are committed to returning Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. With this, we propose that these Pandit initiatives be grounded in a framework that draws upon the Indian Constitution, is validated by Parliament and has judicial closure.
The Constitution offers many Resettlement options such as Union Territory, the Fifth Schedule, the Sixth Schedule, Autonomous Development Councils, Special Administrative Regions to name a few. This is the only safeguard against the recurrence of horrors we have endured. BJP has a unique opportunity to be the leader and consult all the stakeholders so that the right Constitutional answer can be constructed. After removal or Article 370 BJP can make history by correcting another great wrong done in Kashmir.
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