Pandit employees, families face uncertain future in Kashmir

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 25

As normalcy is slowly returning to the Valley, 2,000 Kashmiri Hindu employees and their families face an uncertain future as they feel completely ignored by the government. Even Home Minister Rajnath Singh failed to give any commitment about addressing their grievances during his two-day visit to the Valley.

For the past ten days, hundreds of employees have been protesting outside the Relief Commissioner Office in Jammu demanding their adjustment outside Kashmir after repeated mob attacks on transit camps at Haal, Pulwama and Vessu following the eliminationof militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

“Neither the Home Minister mentioned us nor he invited us to present our viewpoint. Nearly 300 employees have been protesting in Jammu as they do not want to serve in the Valley as situation turns hostile for us whenever there is some protest against the government,” said Rakesh Bhan, one of the protesting employees.

About 2,000 Pandit youth had returned to the Valley under the Prime Minister employment package in 2010 as a part of rehabilitation scheme started by then Congress-led UPA government in 2008. Its aim was to allow the minority community members to start their life afresh. About 3.50 lakh Pandits had left the Kashmir valley in 1989-90 at the eruption of militancy.

Pandit organisations have also raised questions over the plans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government to carry forward the resettlement and rehab plan as so far only announcements have been made, but no concrete steps have been taken to address their grievances.

“We chose to serve in Kashmir so that we are able to again live there. But the silence of the Centre and state government on our plight is quite frustrating. We don’t see future in Kashmir and the resettlement plan will never succeed as the government has no policy to deal with separatists,” said Rubon Saproo, a member of All Migrant Employees’ Association, a representative body of Pandit youth serving in different districts of Kashmir.

There is also resentment in Jammu that the government has tried to hide the problems faced by minorities, transporters and Amarnath pilgrims who were attacked by mobs during the present turmoil.

“No minister has bothered to meet the protesting employees and ask about the circumstances which forced them to leave the Valley. We do not expect anything from the government now,” Ravinder Raina, president, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference.