BJP must clear stand on staff under PM package: Pandits

JAMMU: Protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees, who have been employed under the Prime Minister’s package, have urged the BJP to clear its stand on their issue after the party set up a four-member committee to present its report to the Central government.

Members of the Displaced Pandit Youth Forum protest in Jammu on Sunday. A Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 28

Protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees, who have been employed under the Prime Minister’s package, have urged the BJP to clear its stand on their issue after the party set up a four-member committee to present its report to the Central government.

A statement issued by the All Migrant Employees’ Association (AMEA), a representative body of more than 2,000 Pandit youth who returned to the Valley in 2010 to start their life afresh, said they had urged the government to take a decision about their future.

“The committee constituted by the BJP is yet to give any assurance to us. It should issue an official statement regarding what are the plans of the government till the condition returns to normalcy in the Valley”, said the statement.

Employees have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to redress their concerns and meet their demands, keeping in view the problems faced by them in the Valley.

Meanwhile, the peaceful protest of the employees entered its 40th day today. Hundreds of employees, who shifted from the Valley after their transit camps were subjected to intense stone-throwing by mobs, have been protesting in Jammu.

Their key demands are adjustment of employees outside Kashmir, appointment of a nodal officer to resolve their problems and release of pending salaries.

“The cold-hearted attitude of the state and Central governments towards our demands is a major disappointment for us. We gave several representations to the government regarding our issues but unfortunately it has turned a blind eye towards our problems,” said the statement.

The employees are also feeling dejected as they were not allowed to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who recently came to the Kashmir valley to interact with various political and social organisations. They said most of the youth who returned in 2010 are part of society in Kashmir and their views needs to be taken into consideration before finding solution to the problems facing the Valley.