From the President s Des

 

Respected Biradari Members 

Namaskar

On behalf of my Biradari Members, I would like to express our feelings and sentiments to our beloved Prime Minister, Narender Modi. We are grateful to the Central Government, under the able leadership of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, for achieving unprecedented success in establishing peace in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This has brought much-needed relief to the millions of people living in the region.

The past years had witnessed immense death, destruction, and economic disaster in the erstwhile State of J&K. Our community, along with nearly half a million members, was forced to leave the valley due to the threat to our lives from Islamic terrorists. The once cherished Culture of Coexistence eroded rapidly, leading to ethnic cleansing and genocide.

We are elated that the Modi Government took the necessary steps to abolish the vicious articles, Article 370 and 35A, bringing J&K directly under the rule of the Indian Constitution and removing constitutional duality. This landmark decision has safeguarded the integrity and security of our country, countering sub-nationalism and separatism. The ruling elite of the valley often demanded the restoration of these articles, using them to exploit their assets, political positions, and unchecked power, to the detriment of the Kashmiri people and Kashmiri Pandits in particular. They practised brazen communalism within their sphere of influence while advocating for secularism outside Kashmir. This caused irreparable damage to the age-old Sufi Culture of coexistence and inclusive growth. Islam was exploited as a tool to emotionally manipulate the gullible masses, even indoctrinating young Muslim boys to wage war against their Own people and country. They shamelessly used terrorism to maintain power and threaten Indian polity. However, under your leadership, dear Prime Minister, their myths have been shattered, and the youth of the valley have gained confidence in your governance.

We take immense pleasure and satisfaction in witnessing the developmental changes you have brought to J&K. The people of Kashmir have been the primary beneficiaries of these efforts, leading to a metamorphic shift from destruction to development. The transport, railway, and air infrastructure have received significant improvements, enabling the smooth movement of people and goods to and from the valley throughout the year. This has resulted in a surge in tourist footfall for the first time since 1990. Trade, commerce, cottage and small-scale industries, as well as startup groups, have flourished, witnessing manifold growth. The overall growth rate in the valley has seen a substantial increase, while social benefit schemes have reached the poor and needy. We wholeheartedly celebrate this transformation.

However, Hon'ble Prime Minister, despite all these positive changes, the situation remains unchanged for Kashmiri Pandits. We continue to reside in camps outside J&K and have been left out of the development story. Our participation in the political, social, and economic activities that shape the progress and development of J&K has been minimal, insignificant, and neglected.

We had placed our hopes in your leadership to address the pressing issues of our genocide, rehabilitation, and resettlement in a dignified and secure manner within our homeland. Regrettably, we feel excluded and marginalised, as if we are not an integral part of our own country. We are compelled to live as second-class citizens deprived of our homeland and basic human right to reside in our own land Even after 33 years of the onslaught on our community, we are still referred to as migrants.

We remain committed to a peaceful, dignified, safe, and secure return to our homeland We sincerely hope that our concerns are heard and addressed, and that the government takes proactive measures to ensure the safe and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their rightful place within the fabric of J&K and the nation.

Looking at the above stated facts we firmly believe that Hon'ble Prime Minister will address the issue at earliest taking all the stakeholders on board and giving shape to the settlement of our issues as per the commitment made by the BJP government in the year 2014

Thank you for your attention, Hon'ble Prime Minister

"Refugees didn't just escape a place. They had to escape a thousand memories until they'd put enough time and distance between them and their misery to wake to a better day. It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks. No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land."

- Warsan Shire

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Courtesy:- Sumeer Chrungoo and Koshur Samachar 2023, July