WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE – 20TH FEBRUARY

World Day of Social Justice, observed annually on February 20th by the United Nations, serves as a globalcall to action for addressing human  rights, poverty, exclusion, and unemployment while  promoting solidarity, harmony, and equalityof opportunity within and between societies. Established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during the 62nd session on November 26, 2007, the World D y of Social Justice is celebrated annually on 20th Feb since the 63rd session in 2009. Th is observance stems from the recognition that social development and social justice are indispensable for achieving and maintaining peace and security both within and among nations. Th e day emphasizes that social justice cannot be attained without peace, security, and respect for all

Human rights and fundamental freedoms. Th e day aligns closely with the

United Nations’ broader mission to promote development and human dignity. Initiatives like the Social Protection Floor, launched in 2009,demonstrate the UN’s commitment to ensuring basic social guarantees for all. Th e Constitution of India lays a strong foundation for social justice and empowerment through various provisions that aim to eliminate social inequalities and promote the welfare of disadvantaged groups.India has observed the World Day of Social Justice since 2009. Th e evolution of social justice and empowerment in India has been a gradual but progressive process infl uenced by historical struggles, constitutional mandates, and policy developments. Th e vision of social justice and empowerment has been deeply rooted in India’s independence movement and the vision laid down by the Constitution to ensure equality, dignity, and justice for all citizens, especially the marginalized communities. Th e Constitution of India lays a strong foundation for soc al

justice and empowerment through various provisions that aim to eliminate social inequalities and promote the welfare of disadvantaged groups. Key Constitutional Provisions on Social Justice and Empowerment provide equality for all, with full human rights liberties and right to live with dignity and honor. Th e Preamble of the Indian constitution ensures social, economic, and political justice, guarantees equality of status and opportunity, and promotes fraternity to uphold individual dignity and national unity. It establishes the foundation for a just and inclusive society free from discrimination. Article 38 directs testate to redu e social and economic inequalities. Article 39 ensures equal livelihood, fair ages, and protection from exploitation. Article 39 A guarantees free legal aid for the disadvantaged. . How does it apply to the forcibly displaced Kashmiri Panidts, when they have been forced to leave their homes and hearths from their birth place in Kashmir aft er mass murder and

genocide in January-1990. It has not been allowed to apply to the displaced KP’s both socially and politically, under a well tailored plan. Th e Muslim majority and politicians of Kashmir with a diehard dynastic base have surpassed all the norms of humanity byrefusing the   habilitation of KP’s back in Kashmir. The reason being that these elements want a complete Islamization in Kashmir, thus giving birth to a polarized communal atmosphere in Kashmir. Instances are not wanting when serious cases of killings of KP’s have occurred in the past, when ever any KP tried to reestablish himself in Kashmir back to his place of original abode. Such killings were even brutal killings, eventually ignored by the dministrations of the day. Same is true about the present government in Delhi ruled by BJP, which has probably been more worst with KP’s in this regard, when BJP is now in power in Delhi for the last ten years. The reasons are obvious. KP’s are not a vote bank entity at all being a small community and that too scattered all over the country and aboard due to the onslaught of militancy in 1990. Why BJP should beat its breast for the KP’s. The January month of each year after the 19th January-1990,haunts each and every Kashmiri Pandit, living in forced exile across the country of the horrors and woes of this month, when they were forced to flee from Kashmir due to the terror dragon of the Islamist undamentalists on this day. Kashmiri Pandits get reminded of their Kashmir which was known as ‘Paradise on Earth’, full of Sufi cult and an abode of tolerance and unparalleled brotherhood. This all broke in one night, the night of 19th January-1990. This paradise of the Pandits became a death trap for them due to the spurt of militancy backed by Islamic fundamentalism sponsored across the border, when each one of them were caught unawares for no fault of theirs. The dark night of January 19, 1990, shivering with cold, is remembered by all of them, as it was the worst nightmare for the Kashmiri Pandits living in the valley. Screaming from loud speakers from mosques and crowded streets was a message for KP’s living in Kashmir, which said, Ralive, Tsaliv , Neti- Galiv. (It meant that either convert to Islam or leave Kashmir and in the alternative face death). Even after about 35 years, Kashmiri Pandits shiver remembering the night which forced them into exodus and a life of exile within their own country. Jehadi cum communal speeches from mosques were put on loud speakers meant for “Azan & Nimaz”, which would say (“Yeti- Bani Pakistan, Bhatov Bhegeer the Bhatenen-San”), meaning there in that the Kashmir will become a Pakistan without male Kashmiri Pandits, but including women folk of Kashmiri Pandits. Return of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir is  ow a dream miles away is an alarming observation by a visionary intellectuals across the well thinking KP’s. It is in the right earnest to introspect as to where the gap in governance occurred in handling important issues like settlement of Kashmiri Migrants back

in Kashmir with dignity and honor. It indicates administrative inability to prepare receptive ground environment in the valley for their return. No doubt, the issue needs diligent approach both logistically and administratively to ensure security and safety of the migrant in their parental habitations across the valley. Two irritations emanate into the minds of the some of the majority community members in Kashmir with the proposals of displaced KP’s back in Kashmir. One of it is that they feel that once the Kashmiri Pundits come back in bulk, the government jobs in Kashmir acquired by them will have to be shared by themin that case with the Pandits. The other major irritation and the itching in their bodies is that of the grabbed properties of Kashmiri Pandits at pea nut costs shall have to be returned by them back to the Kashmiri Pandits, or shall have to be compensated by them at the appropriate values of such properties usurped by them at residuary values. So a Kashmiri Pandit is now caughtbetween the devil and the deep sea, in going back to Kashmir in the present scenario when apart from the fear of terrorists acts,  some amongst the local majority population of Kashmir are equally not only a silent spectators to these designs of the terrorists,but equally the major silent partners in this whole game, not to speak of the political leaders who are shedding crocodile tears showing sympathies with the Kashmiri Pandits and othernon Muslim affected persons. It is now an  established fact that the Islamic terror mechanism in Kashmir wants that the valley should now be absolutely free from the presence and existence of Kashmiri Pandits. It is an unequivocal ethnic racial cleansing signal to the Kashmiri Pandits in particular that Kashmiri Pandits cannot be tolerated in Kashmir. Another set back to the safe existence of the Kashmiri Pandits as the loyal citizens of this country and as the principle residents of Kashmir, within the safe boundaries of India, has emerged

with the dismissal of their curative petition by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India some time back. Supreme Court of India some years back dismissed a curative petition seeking legally based probe into Kashmiri Pandit exodus and mass killings in 1989-90 at the hands of the Islamic terrorists. “We have gone through the Curative Petition and the connected documents. In our opinion, no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this Court”, as per the judgment in this regard. Without commenting on this judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, does it mean that the law of the land through the prevalent legal jurisprudence system in India has refused the Kashmiri Pandits, ‘the sons of the soil’, a final hope for a probe in to the genocide of KP’s in 1989-90, which was perpetrated at the hands of the Islamic terrorists, when they deserved it. With the dismissal of the curative petition filed by the NGO ”Roots in Kashmir”, which made an attempt to get the perpetrators of terror to be brought to book, responsible for the mass genocide of the Kashmiri Pandits, the hopes of the displaced KP’s, who are the victims of the worst kind of genocide in their own home land have been shattered to get settled back in their lost homes and hearths in Kashmir. It sounds like that KP’s have been refused an entry back in Kashmir to their lost paradise of centuries, when they are the aboriginals of Kashmir bearing allegiance to the roots of “ Kashyap- Rishi” who killed the “ Demons” of doom in Kashmir to make Kashmir a spiritual paradise on earth. It is repeatedly being observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgments in this regard that the issue lies with the executive and not with the judiciary. It is being said through various judgments in this regard that Kashmiri Pandits should approach the government for such a probe. The government has not done anything in this raged for the last more than 35 years in so far. Why was not it got investigated by an impartial legal orum, by various governments from  989 till date. Where lays the roadblock? Yes, the biggest road block is that KP’s are not vote bank mulching cows, as they are scattered and are very little in number  as compared to the majority Muslim population of Kashmir. No political party including the so-called liberal “Hinduvita” party BJP, wants to antagonize the majority population of Muslims

both in Kashmir and the other Muslims in India. Tall slogans and claims of normalcy is a virtual dream to fulfill the false egos of government for public consumption when the situation on ground is different. If Article 370 and 35 A could be removed through an enactment in parliament and the acts like CCA etc, introduced in parliament, Jammu and Kashmir made a Union Territory and Ladakh separated from it, why should not the

present BJP ruling dispensation in Delhi, who are beating their breasts for the present plight of KP’s, bring a resolution in the parliament in regard to the institution of an enquiry commission  about the genocide and mass migration o Kashmiri Pandits form Kashmir and get the culprits booked, along with their rehabilitation back in the valley. Let the government act nd save the  nnocent KP’s as pigeons before cats. Better, said than done? It will not be  done, as Kashmiri Pandits are not carrying any vote

bank scent or tag, being a miniscule community scattered all over

the country and even abroad. Where is “Hindutva” about us? Do we not belong to the big race of the Hindus of this great “Bharat”. It is now very much unfortunate for us to seek refuge under this cover of Hinduism as the enormous and enough drum beating of the secular credencredentials of the nations commitment to the Constitution has failed to protect us from our extinction from the mini map of Kashmir and the bigger map of our great India. We are shrinking in numbers. It is a million dollar question. It has to be replied by the present government and lip sympathies will hardly work in this regard. After all Kashmir is a part of our blood and flesh, why to refuse it to us. The only way to ensure the return of the KP’s to their “homeland” securing their return with safety and dignity, is to create a home land for the KP’s within Kashmir with full security arrangements, so that they do not become easy ducks and fodder for the pan Islamic terrorists again. Government of India has to

keep it  in mind that no solution will be perpetual for Jammu & Kashmir unless the Kashmiri Pandits do not get their due which is a “Home Land” for them within Kashmir, their mother land, with full security. It is their fundamental right and fundamental demand. A tangible space has to be carved within the Kashmir valley, in between the ranges of south Kashmir and the north Kashmir, for the creation of the “homeland” for the rehabilitation of the KP’s, which has to be given a status of the Union Territory, with in the Union of India. This space to be called as the “Home land of KP’s”, will have separate independent governance absolutely free  rom any encumbrance from the state of Kashmir.

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Courtesy: ER. P.L.KHUSHU  and  Spade A Spade- 2025 MARCH