Ensure return, rehabilitation of KPs: Bhan urges PM Modi

New Delhi, Jan 18: Senior Advocate Ashok Bhan has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through an open letter, calling for immediate and sustained efforts to ensure the return and rehabilitation of exiled Kashmiri Pandits.
In the letter, terming January 19, 1990, as Kashmir’s Black Day, a grim reminder of the events, Bhan said the day led to the forced exodus of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits due to targeted killings. Observing the day as a “Holocaust Day,” he emphasised the severe impact of the displacement, stating, “The Kashmiri Pandit community, once vibrant, is now scattered, devastated, and on the brink of extinction.”
While commending post-2019 progress in Kashmir, including infrastructure development, private investments, and improved security, Bhan pointed out the absence of concrete policies to facilitate the Pandits’ return.
He acknowledged the Valley’s shifting dynamics, with increased democratic participation and a collective rejection of terrorism, as a positive foundation for the rehabilitation process.
Bhan stressed the growing support for the return of Kashmiri Pandits, citing calls from political leaders, religious figures, and civil society. “The message is clear: Kashmir is incomplete without its native Pandits,” he wrote, urging the government to harness this sentiment into actionable policies.
The letter proposed a comprehensive plan for their reintegration, focusing on security measures, economic incentives, restoration of cultural and religious heritage, and constitutional safeguards.
Bhan noted that the return of the Pandits would not only fulfill a long-standing demand for justice but also strengthen communal harmony and the pluralistic ideals of India.
Bhan urged the government to act decisively: “I beseech your government to prioritize the reversal of this exile and restore the Kashmiri Pandit community to their rightful place in their homeland.”