In the backdrop of J&K Assembly elections, three major organisations of Kashmiri Pandits namely the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), and the Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) together addressed a joint Press conference on sept 2, 2024 at Jammu Press club to extract the commitment from the mainstream political parties of the J&K towards resolving long unresolved issues of unending running exile under the topic “Mainstream Political Parties need to clear their stand on the redressal of the core concerns of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and a clear cut roadmap for their return and rehabilitation”.
On behalf of their respective organisations, the Press Conference was addressed by Dr. Ramesh Raina. Dr. Utpal Koul, Daleep Mattoo, Ashwani Bhat and Dr Manorama Bhakhshi.
The representatives of these major KP organisations unanimously sought a straight and clear answers from the mainstream political parties of the place about the steps and measures they intend to take post elections to restore the faith and confidence of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, address their threat perception and injustice meted out during all these 35 of years of exile.
Given these issues, it has become imperative for the mainstream political parties to convince the beleaguered Community about their intentions of timely execution of a policy framework regarding the above-mentioned issues of concern and a roadmap for their honourable rehabilitation in Kashmir consistent with the noted KP community stand aired through regular organisational meetings and Media all these years.
It also calls for taking the frontline KP organisations into confidence. It therefore demanded
1. To remain steadfast in their demand for justice and rehabilitation for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
2. The community is advocating for a permanent settlement in the Valley, ensuring their return to their homes and hearths.
3. Concrete steps for the preservation of their cultural heritage.
4. Reference made to change the names of sacred Hindu sites such as Shankaracharya Hill as Takht-i-Sulaiman and Hari Parbat as Koh-e-Maran not acceptable. This tantamount to revisionism that seeks to erase the region’s Hindu heritage.
Such actions not only affront communal harmony but also sow the fresh seeds of doubt about the things to follow.
5. Establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for civil society, as also recommended by the Supreme Court.
6. Passage of Temples and Shrine Bill for the control and management of KP temples, shrines and their Cultural centres.
7. Ensure well-being of PM package employees and those KP’s who did not leave Valley in the wake of terrorism and thereafter.
8. It also demanded the improved living conditions in the people living in migrant camps in different areas in Jammu.
AIKS, GKPD and JKVM strongly demanded an action-oriented response from the political parties and not merely in their respective organisational papers and slogans that would fade away with the passage of time.
It therefore decided to remain steadfast in their demand for justice and rehabilitation for the Kashmiri Pandit community and as a first step would jointly follow up the issue with the powers that be.
