Senior lawyer and peace activist Ashok Bhan has called for the swift restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood and the long-overdue return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
Speaking at a joint meeting of lawyers for democracy & Asia pacific Lawyers association,Noted Senior lawyer and a distinguished fellow of United Services Institute (USI)peace activist Ashok Bhan has said the Idea of India and its core democracy has come to stay permanently in Jammu & Kashmir.
Bhan said that as a means for change, at the socio-political levels of the society has rejected Pakistan and her terror & Jihadism.The institution of Indian Supreme Court is hugely revered by the people for its commandment to Union of India and Election Commission of India to hold assembly elections in September of 2024.The elections were held and the popular people’s government has been formed.
“Another major commitment made to hon’ble Supreme Court by Union of India is about restoration of the statehood for Jammu & Kashmir that has been bifurcated to two Union territories without following the due constitutional processes.In order to avoid a finding about its legality or otherwise the Union of India through Solicitor General gave an assurance to the Supreme Court which is on record that the Statehood would be restored soon to Jammu & Kashmir”, he said.
Bhan further said that the Omar Abdullah government and the State assembly had unanimously passed resolutions demanding the restoration of Statehood and recently CM Omar Abdullah at a public meeting on the occasion of Z More Tunnel opening at Sonmarg in Kashmir very politely yet assertively urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi present about the restoration of the Statehood.
Bhan urged the Union Cabinet to consider the aspirations and respect the sensitivities of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and take a call to decide urgently about the grant of Statehood.The Union of India is requested to respect the opinion and the discreet commandment of the hon’ble Supreme Court of India in this behalf.
Bhan said, The blackest day in the history of Kashmir is the holocaust of 19th January 1990, on this day the entire Hindu religious minority -a native population of 500 thousand were hounded out from their homes -Kashmir.They are ethnically cleanest after terrorists killings the KP community members and other innocent Kashmiris rendered homeless are living as refugees and roots less.It is the thirty fifth year of homeless living for this population,that has brought colossal miseries,trauma and harsh living conditions to them besides disintegration syndrome to this unique population.
Bhan said that the union government, has failed in last 10 years to plan a structured return and rehabilitation of refugees population back to home in Kashmir.
He said there is a national consensus and Kashmiri societal overwhelming support for their Gharwapsi but unfortunately the current government does not prioritise this festering issue.
Bhan said that on the eve of holocaust day that falls on the 19th January the exiled Kashmiris beseech Modi 3:0 to plan the GHARWAPSI of this native Kashmiri population back to their homeland.A national socio-political consensus exists on this one issue. There is a loud demand by Kashmiris that Kashmir is incomplete without the physical presence of Kashmiri Pandits.It is for Modi 3:0 to demonstrate the requisite political will and use of Governmental hard and soft power to reverse the exile of this unique Community.
