Postpone delimitation till our return, say Pandits

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 21

Kashmiri Pandits have urged the Central Government to postpone the proposed delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir till their return to the Valley.

“Since two years, we have been urging the Central Government to help us return to the Valley. Except false promises by successive governments to date, no concrete policy has been framed for rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits in the Valley,” Satish Mahaldar, coordinator, Return and Rehabilitation Team for Kashmiri Migrants.

Mahaldar said going ahead with delimitation of J&K Assembly without their return meant snatching of their voting rights.

“We urge the government until Kashmiri migrants are not rehabilitated, delimitation process should be stopped as right to vote is being snatched from aborigines of Kashmir,” he said.

Mahaldar had led a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley in June and July this year and stated that 419 migrants were willing to return to Kashmir. Besides, meeting Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and civil society members, the delegation had also turned up at Mela Kheer Bhawani in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district.