LS polls: Kashmiri Pandit Migrants supporting our candidates, says NC

Jammu, May 06: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Core Committee of Kashmiri Pandit Migrants from Camps in Jagti, Muthi, Nagrota, Buta Nagar, along with non-camp residents in Jammu, affirmed their unwavering support to the National Conference candidates contesting for the Lok Sabha Polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the party said on Monday.
This significant endorsement underscores the solidarity of the Kashmiri Pandit community in shaping the region’s political landscape, the NC said in a statement issued here.
In this context, Core Committee leaders of Kashmiri Pandit Migrants met with Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Additional General Secretary, JKNC, and former minister and Rattan Lal Gupta Advocate, Provincial President JKNC Jammu, at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan in Jammu to address the various challenges confronting the migrant community.
The KP migrant leaders highlighted the pressing issues faced by the Kashmiri migrant community residing in Jagti, Purkhoo, Muthi, Buta Nagar, Nagrota, camps, and non-camp migrants settled across Jammu region, particularly emphasizing the absence of basic amenities, the statement said, adding that they underscored the substantial contributions made by the National Conference, including the provision of PM employment package for over-aged youth of migrants, increased cash assistance and construction of residential accommodation in different camps during their tenure, etc.
They asserted that the present dispensation only made “hollow slogans” and did nothing for their welfare, the NC said.
“Expressing their resolve to support only such political party which has a proven track record of serving the common masses as well as the Kashmiri Pandit migrant community, the leaders announced their full support to Omar Abdullah from Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency, Aga Syed Rahullah from Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency and Mian Altaf Ahmed from Anantnag- Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency,” the statement said.
Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra said the National Conference has consistently advocated for the rights and welfare of Kashmiri Migrants in the Parliament. Under the NC regime, an Apex Body was established to effectively address and resolve their issues, reflecting the party’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the displaced community, he said.
The former minister asked the Central government to reveal what steps have been taken by it for the welfare of the migrant community in the last ten years of its rule.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President, in his address, asserted that the National Conference has always stood for the cause of Kashmiri Migrants and shall continue the same for all times to come. “The BJP government had made promises to rehabilitate the KP Migrants in the valley but these proved to be a cruel joke as no steps were taken in this direction since 2014,” he said.
Gupta said that during the NC regime, both Rajouri and Poonch districts remained terrorism-free. However, he noted with concern the recent rise in terrorism activities across the Jammu region.
“Three terrorism incidents including the killing of a government official in Rajouri’s Kunda Top near Shahdara Sharief on April 22, the killing of Village Defence Guard Mohd Sharief in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur on April 28 and May 4 in Surankote in the last 15 days are a matter of serious concern,” he said.