Kashmiri Pandit Conference denounces BJP manifesto as betrayal

JAMMU, SEPT 07: The Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) has expressed deep disappointment and a sense of betrayal following the release of the BJP’s manifesto in Jammu. The KPC accuses the manifesto of being a routine exercise in empty promises and failing to address the real issues faced by the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.
KPC President Kundan Kashmiri criticized the BJP’s manifesto for neglecting the community’s needs and failing to provide tangible solutions for justice, rehabilitation, and recognition. He described the manifesto as a continuation of the hollow rhetoric that has plagued previous political promises regarding the Kashmiri Pandits.
One of the most contentious issues highlighted by Kashmiri was Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent claims during an interview with Aaj Tak. Shah asserted that land and property cases for displaced Kashmiri Pandits had been resolved, a statement Kashmiri disputes as false. “Neither has the land been returned nor have the compensation claims been settled. The pain and struggle of displaced Kashmiri Pandits continue,” Kashmiri said.
The KPC also took issue with the use of the term “migrants,” arguing that it wrongly labels Kashmiri Pandits, who should be recognized as internally displaced persons. The manifesto’s failure to address this critical issue, along with other significant concerns, has been seen as a glaring omission.
The KPC disputed claims of the settlement of 6,000 Kashmiri Pandit families in the Valley, labeling the assertion as misleading. “The presence of these families is fragile, and they continue to live under constant threat and uncertainty,” Kashmiri emphasized.
Furthermore, the KPC noted the manifesto’s lack of commitment to a secure and dignified settlement plan for displaced Pandits, enhanced relief measures, and financial support for affected individuals. The absence of mentions regarding the passage of the Temple and Shrine Bill and the acknowledgment of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits were seen as serious oversights.
The KPC’s statement also criticized the potential issuance of a white paper on terrorism without recognizing the genocide and suffering of Kashmiri Pandits. “A party that fails to commit fully to the justice and dignity of its people, even in rhetoric, deserves neither our trust nor our allegiance,” Kashmiri concluded.