Pandits feel sidelined by UT admn, Centre

Six months after abrogation, no clarity over rehabilitation

After six months we feel that Pandits have lost relevance in the new political dynamics. What to talk of returning, even the approved plans are progressing at a snails pace. — TK Bhat, general secy, All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 4

The abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A and direct Central rule over Jammu and Kashmir was supposed to clear bureaucratic and political impediments in way of the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, but after six months, Kashmiri Pandits feel sidelined.

Although being the state subjects, 3.50 lakh Valley Hindus were in no way affected by the special status, yet the community had welcomed the abrogation of Article 370 citing it as the main reason for creating ‘mindset of alienation’ and ‘sustaining separatist sentiments’ in the Valley, which led to their exodus about three decades ago.

However, initial euphoria vanished as the Pandits felt themselves completely ignored in the UT as the focus of the Central and the state government remained towards assuaging sentiments in the Valley and preventing violence.

“As many as 36 Union Ministers visited J&K between January 18 and 24, but not a single programme was organised at the migrant camps in Jammu. No interaction was held with employees at transit camps who returned to the Valley in 2010 under the Prime Minister Employment Package”, said RK Bhat, president, Youth All-India Kashmiri Conference (YAIKS).

Nearly 20,000 people live in four camps in Jammu and about 3,000 minority employees are working in Kashmir and live in rented and overcrowded transit camps in different parts of the Valley.

Except political statements regarding the return of the minorities to the Valley, no concrete announcement was made by the government to implement and speedup already approved plans.

Even the announcement of land acquisition for the construction of 1,680 multi-storey housing units in Kashmir has not progressed much. There is no clarity over the implementation of various components of Rs 2,000-crore Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Plan announced in 2015.

“After six months we feel that Pandits have lost relevance in the new political dynamics. What to talk of returning, even the approved plans are progressing at a snails pace”, said . TK Bhat, general secretary, All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC).