A Policy Paper

A Policy Paper (Presented To AIKS CONCLAVE at JAMMU on JUNE 18-20, 2004)

Dr Romesh Raina Gen. Secretary, 2004  Kashmiri Samiti Delhi

AN EXTRACT

KSD Ideology in The Contemporary Scenario

Going by the mountainous task that still remains unaccomplished, a considerable attention was paid towards preparing a comprehensive policy paper wherein an effort has been made to absorb all shades of opinion both within the executive council and outside, with the main focus on.

1. Prevention of structure of migration from erosion

2. Evolution of futuristic political agenda

3. Uniform Relief Policy

4. All India educational reservation for the wards of Kashmiri migrants

Re-Organisation of J&K State:

Denial deprivation, fear and insecurity changed the ground realities in the state With the passage of the time the chinks in different regions and between various communities started surfacing. Majoritarian dominance played a crucial role and an urge to protect the vital interests of the affected people started gaining momentum This dominance was carefully nurtured over the years and have reached every conceivable area of governance This led to the erosion of Doctrine of equality.

As a response to the discrimination and subsequent process of elimination by the enemies of civil society towards the deprived sections, KSD at large feels the re-organisation of the J&K state is the most cogend and decisive remedy to mitigate the existing imbalance of power.

Of immense political significance is the formation of Ladakh Hill Development Council Ladakh Buddhist Association had been pleading with the authorities about the need to protect their distinct identity and culture which they felt was being threatend under the present dispensation. They were finally rewarded with Hill Development Council with a package of concessions like sufficient internal autonomy and local self -governance

The culmination of this council makes its clear that restructuring and re-organising the state is not a very tall order The fundamental postulates of this re-organisation should be based on justice for all and the natural beneficiary of this argument should be a displaced Kashmiri Pandit and the route of this rehabilitation should be through consideration of a separate homeland for the community. Kashmiri Pandits do not see any logic in living in the same fashion as prior to exodus because the political environment in the valley has undergone a metamorphic change. This opinion emanates from the argument that there is a need for a protective umbrella against any attempted misadventure in future.

Kashmiri Pandit community has a proud of living a decent and a civilised life. This exodus has brought them face to face with the harsh realities of life, where day-to-day existence has become part of their life. The arbitrary talk of return and rehabilitation has put them in a great dilemma, as back home they have been erased from the collective memory of Kashmir This leaves no choice for them except to ask for a homeland where they could prevent their distinct socio-cultural philosophy from erosion at the same time evolve a separate political power structure.

BRIEF BACKGROUND:

The existence of KPS is rooted in the history and liberal cultural ethos of Kashmir and constitute an indigenous ethnic minority of the valley Presently they refuse to live in such a dispensation where terror and insecurity stare them at every step. This insecurity is a product of collective failure of authorities, institutions, civil society who failed to prevent their exodus in the beginning and later showed a criminal neglect towards them. The replacement of a political cultural of peaceful times by a violent creed is a great obstacle in their return.                                                                                               It is pertinent to quote here the concern shown by United Nations at the plight of such minorities who had to face the wrath of the majority communities in the various parts of the world. Mr. Kofi Anan UN Secretary General in his speech on 7 April, 2004 said, "Wherever civilians are deliberately targeted because they belong to a particular community. we are in the process of potential, if not actual genocide" In his speech he also emphasize before proposing solutions one must first address and acknowledge the problem.

With this background UN coined a new termi to address such eventualities as Human Security Taken together it means apart from personal security, cultural and economic security which forms the collective right of the minority forced out of their lands.

"Living can be done in any part of the world but death and last rites must be done in one's own place" is what the President Shri Sunil Shakdher has been reiterating as a response to the ongoing disappointment of the displaced community.

KPs do fit in this description, as the core issue is the return of KPs with honour and dignity to their homes. Human Security, if guaranteed , can become a shield against the currents and cross: currents of the mainstream politics of the valley. This is a product of absence of any policy towards the minorities and even while being out of their native land for so long no effort has been made at framing one. Small sops that the administration has been doling out from time to time like two room hutments and cluster residential complexes at different places do not encourage a KP to return because they cannot reclaim their identity this way. Therefore it raises some pertinent questions as to how they could return, though these sops might lure some people but the large part of the community shall be forced not to respond. The only situation where they could consider their return would be their rehabilitation as a single unit with a better guaranteed sense of security. Return in small clusters with a few stops here and there is ruled out.

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Courtesy:- Dr. Romesh Raina GS Kashmir Samiti 2004 and 2004 August Koshur Samachar