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J&K: Interlocutor meets CM, Pandits

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits demand ‘one-place settlement’ in Kashmir in a bid to start life afresh

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Dineshwar Sharma
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Migrant Kashmiri Pandits have pitched for 'one-place settlement' in Kashmir valley in a bid to start life afresh at their place of birth to Centre's Special Representative Dineshwar Sharma.

Sharma kick-started his four day 'Mission Kashmir' 2.0 from Jammu on Friday.

Soon after his arrival he called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and briefed her about the schedule of deliberations during his stay.

Sharma met migrant Kashmiri Pandits putting up in Jagti Township at Nagrota on the first day of his state tour. The migrants submitted a memorandum seeking minority status to Kashmiri pandits and one-place settlement for the exiled community.

"We request package for rehabilitation in Jammu and other parts of India till normalcy returns to the Valley. In case of return, one place settlement for Kashmiri Hindus should be given priority. For this Koul commission report may be taken into consideration which was established in 1996," the memorandum reads.

"Kashmiri pandits do not feel secure to live in the Valley. In the present situation, both Muslims and Hindus are poles apart from each other. Centre and state government should Indianise the atmosphere by having the free flow of the constitution (in the Valley)," it adds.

Headed by Roshan Lal Raina, the delegation also pitched for minority status to Kashmiri pandits and compensation to the damaged properties.

"We demand minority status to the Kashmiri pandits. We have Article 370 in J&K, and I am in minority here. You can't say that since Hindus are majority in India I too am a part of it. Both religious and linguistic minorities are to be considered state wise. We are discriminated politically, economically, socially, and educationally," Raina said.

Few years back the government's move to create exclusive zones for Kashmiri pandits triggered a political storm with separatists and terror outfits opposing the move. Though separatists favoured the return of pandits, they threatened to launch agitation if they are settled in exclusive zones.

There are 4,200 migrant Kashmir pandit families comprising over 20,000 persons in the Jagti Township in Nagrota Jammu.

However another Pandit organization, 'Panun Kashmir' said townships in Kashmir are no alternative to their miseries. "We believe that Homeland for Pandits in the valley with Union territory status is the only solution", said Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo; president of Panun Kashmir

Official figures reveal that around 41,117 migrant families from Kashmir are registered in Jammu and 21,000 others in Delhi and other states. Of the total migrant families living in Jammu, 37,128 are Hindus, 2,246 Muslims and 1,758 Sikhs.

"We also pressed for compensating for the losses of our property. On one side you are releasing stone throwers and talking about the rehabilitation and on the other you are not compensating our losses. Do you want that we should also become stone pelters and that will be the certificate for rehabilitation of our youth", said Raina.

During his four days stay in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma is likely to meet West Pakistan Refugees, border dwellers and visit sensitive south Kashmir before flying back to Delhi.

IN FIGURES

  • Official data states around 41,117 migrant families from Kashmir are registered in Jammu.
     
  • Of them, 37,128 are Hindus, 2,246 Muslims and 1,758 Sikhs.
     
  • 21,000 others registered in Delhi and other states.

Hurriyat seeks political prisoners’ release

Srinagar: Playing a spoilsport, Hurriyat Conference has termed the amnesty scheme for first-time stone pelters as ‘cosmetic’, and demanded release of all ‘political prisoners’ in the Valley. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Mirwaiz on Friday said thousands of Kashmiris are languishing in jails across Jammu and Kashmir and India for their political ideology and beliefs. Mirwaiz noted if there is a change of approach by the government, all political prisoners should be immediately released from jails and their freedom be restored.

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