General Secretary Report -ASKPC

Martand     June 16, 20100

The greatest social scientist of India, may the whole world, Swami Vivekananda said:  Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient and modern. Society has to pay homage to truth or die. Societies should be moulded upon truth and truth has not to adjust itself to society.

With these inspiring words well come you all to this important conference of ASKPC. Ever since our mass exodus in 1989 90, we have be fighting a struggle for survival.

I am proud to put it on record that the ASKPC has been in the vanguard of this struggle. Our achievements and failures is a part of our history in exile. I recall the time when desperate and helpless Kashmiri Pandits hounded out from their homes and hearths were pouring in Geeta Bhawan. Having lost all faith in so called secular Government of the day, the displaced community converged under the banner of oldest organization.

We fought on many fronts, achieved something but failed on some vital counts due to hostile administration. Whatever we got, we virtually snatched. We had a just cause but adverse circumstance. Because of Governments callous and un-sympathetic attitude, displaced Kashmiri Pandits have lost all faith in the government - both state and central. To restore the confidence of the displaced community of Kashmiri Pandits, the following demands were made from time to time. But till date these have not been met. This conference reiterates these demands and impresses upon the government to act without further delay: -

1. The centre should a white paper regarding the on-going insurgency in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
2. A Judicial commission headed by a Supreme Court Judge be constituted to probe the genesis of genocide of Kashmiri Pandits during on-going insurgency since 1989-90.
3. To deal with the on-going insurgency, the Govt. should come out with a clear-cut policy on Kashmir to be pursued here after.
4. To safeguard their socio-political interests in the light of 1989-90 genocide, transparent, constitutional guarantees and specific provisions be provided for Kashmiri Pandits for their upliftment, progress and fully meaningful participation in all the fields of human activity-political, economic, cultural and social.
5. In view of the past persecution and discrimination meted out to the community, it should be declared as an economically, socially and educationally deprived/backward community warranting special socio-economic package for upliftment.
6. In view of our past experience, constitutional amendments should be made to provide for:

• Federal grievance Redressal Agency, and
• Federal Redressal Enforcement Force.

1. To check any mischief of systemically depriving and denying its participation in the democratic process, one seat in every district of the valley should be reserved in the State Assembly for Kashmiri Pandits and one seat each in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to be filled by nomination from amongst Kashmiri Pandits.
2. Instead of existing election mechanism of farcical "postal ballots", the displaced Kashmiri Pandits (migrants as per official epithets) should be entitled to participate in electoral process by creating "constituencies in-exile". The case is already submitted to the Election Commission of India.
3. Appointment of a Custodian to take control and look after the left over property of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley.
4. Kashmiri Pandit community should be granted minority status under the state constitutional framework and all constitutional and legal rights of minority community should be ensured for them.
5. The displaced Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee their homes in the valley due to religious persecution and took shelter in rest of the state and country. So they qualify for the states of "Internally Dis placed Persons", which should be granted to them.

Before concluding take this opportunity to call upon various organizations ostensibly working for the welfare of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to be careful about the wicked policy of the government to "divide and rule". Two decades of our struggle has received many setbacks due to "ego clashes" resulting to mushroom groups. ASKPC appeals to all the social the activist to desist from criticizing each other. Let us converge instead of diversions.

                                       Arise – Awake - Stop not till goal is achieved.

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.

Courtesy: The Martand- The Official organ of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference : 16th June, 2010