KASHMIR BHAWAN CALLING

Samiti Delhi in its long history of existence has been to a large extent Contributory to the progress made by our society especially on the social front. It had a vision about the society which though difficult to describe but extremely important in understanding the philosophy of our society. This is one of the reasons that Kashmiri Samiti Delhi continues to remain an entity of special concern to the society.

KSD has over the years evolved as the conscience keeper of the society enlarging its influence in all conceivable areas of the society. The society has started looking upon it with great hope to regain the lost pride of Kashmiri Pandits as the territorial loss has rendered them- vulnerable to erosion of values in their social and cultural life.

The exodus of the 1990's has brought forth into sharp focus the problems of survival for Kashmiri Pandit community. Samiti at this crucial juncture is playing an important role in seeking their resolution. Most of the notable among them is the area of Education, Employment, Traders and other problems.

The recent announcement by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on the return of Kashmiri migrants displaced due to militancy during the turmoil in the valley has created a void among the community. Kashmiri Samiti Delhi immediately held an emergency Executive meeting on 26 April 2008 to take stock of the situation. It was resolved to have All Party Conference of the Kashmiri Pandits to discuss the package announced by Prime Minister at Jammu and Home Minister in the Parliament.

All Party Conference Kashmiri Samiti Delhi organised an all Party Conference on April 30th, 2008 at its headquarter, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar New Delhi. The meeting was attended by the representatives of various Organisations from the Delhi NCR and Jammu. Undersigned welcomed the distinguished guests and briefed them about the recent package for Kashmiri migrants announced by Prime Minister during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir at Akhnoor. The undersigned requested Dr. L.N.Dhar, President to Chair the meeting.

In his inaugural address the President Dr LN Dhar said that the package is not in the interest of the community as the situation at present is in no way different from the previous years. Kashmiri Pandits are not a commodity to be dispatched to Kashmir just to please the Government and other political parties. Our community has suffered great losses due to militancy and displacement from Kashmir and this needs to be compensated. Kashmiri Samiti Delhi has all along been demanding economic packages for the displaced at their present places of stay so that it serves as a healing touch for their sufferance. The return to the valley is subject to the permanent and final settlement of Kashmir dispute and acceptance of any such settlement by the community which should be a party to any such negotiation, the President said.

Shri M L Raina President Kashmiri Pandit Association Rohini opined that the package announced by the Prime Minister does not have any substance. This is a conditional package which is not acceptable at all. Announcing Rs.7.50 lacs for migrants is gimmick.

Shri Moti Lal Malla from Koshur Samut, Ghaziabad deliberated that Government has not felt any need to announce the package since last 18 years. They simply want to dislodge the Kashmiri Pandit community. Announcing this package by Prime Minister is mere an eye wash. Such announcements have been made in past also about the employment sector, but till date nothing substantial has come out. He said that we should jointly reject this package as it does not solve our problem.

Shri Narinder Safaya a leading advocate of the Kashmiri Pandit community was of the view that a proper blueprint of this package is needed as it does not solve our problem. Returning to valley after 18 years will be another forced migration for us.

Smt Nancy Kaul from Daughter's of Vetasta stated this package is a confused one. She felt that all the major Kashmiri Pandit parties should come closer and prepare a blue print and be submitted to he Governmen

Shri M K Machama President Milchar Shipra Suncity, Ghaziabad stressed upon the action plan be framed by KSD in consultation with all other organisations and the same be presented to the Government.

Shri HN Nehru former President Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi stated that this act of the Government is against the community interests and welfare Kashmiri Samiti Delhi should formulate a blueprint and submit it to Government. He further stated that all the parties should jointly confront this move.

Dr. Umesh Moza President, Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Association Vasundhara, Ghaziabad described it as an election gimmick. Unless and until conducive atmosphere is restored in the valley, how can we return to valley. This will be again a forced migration for the community he said.

Shri Roshan Lal Razdan a social activist labeled this package as an election stunt. The package announced by the Prime Minister has to be discussed as it does not carry proper weightage. The package is insufficient and conditional. This will mean another migration for our community Government has failed in all respects to protect our rights during these 18 years. This package is a test for our community, there is no need to get excited. He further stressed that up to date details of Kashmiri Pandit families be prepared at an earliest.

Shri Kundan Kashmir General Secretary ASKPC Delhi unit appreciated the move of the President Dr L N Dhar for convening meeting of all organisations of the Kashmiri Pandit keeping in view the seriousness of the package for the community. He said that Government is confused about the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit community and there is no policy on resolving the Kashmir issue. He said that the Government should not take Kashmiri Pandit community for granted and that there is a need to fight with full force till our goal is achieved.

Shri A K Zutshi President, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, Shalimar Garden said that the package announced by the Prime Minister is a bogus package as Government has made it as a conditional one. He further stated that a team be constituted who will have interaction with the campers and other organisations and groups at Jammu and discuss in detail about this package.

Shri B L. Wali a leading Supreme Court advocate, stated that there were numerous packages announced by the Government during all the period of exodus but none of them have been implemented. Rs.7.5 lacs package is a meagre amount and we need to be very careful. A blueprint should be prepared in consultation with all Kashmiri Pandit organisations and the same should be submitted to the Government.

Shri Ramesh Manwati of Panun Kashmir stated that it is an incomplete and conditional package and such package should out rightly be rejected He further stressed for demand of Homeland.

Shri Anoop Koul said that Rs.7.5 lacs package announced by the Prime Minister is perhaps based on the figures of our population who have migrated from the valley. Home Ministry be asked to give full details of this package KSD in consultation with the other oganisations should frame a blueprint and submit it to the Government at an earliest.

Shri Jatinder Dhar opined that every Kashmiri Pandit has lost all their properties because of the militancy. Now Announcing this package is a healing touch to our community after two decades. This conditional package is not acceptable to KP community at all. He stressed Kashmiri Samiti Delhi to prepare a blue print and submit the same to the government. We have lost everything in this migration and the Government is giving us a healing touch after a lapse of two decades which is quite insufficient and is based on conditional return to Valley This is totally unacceptable to the community.

Shri M K Kak stated that Kashmiri Pandit community has always been made scapegoat. State Government is giving safe passage to militants and ignoring us.

Summing up the proceedings the President Dr L N Dhar said that today's interaction has given us very vital inputs and various opinions which will help the KSD in formulating an action plan as stressed upon in the meeting. A joint Committee with representatives of various organisations will be framed immediately which apart from meeting regularly in Delhi will visit Jammu also to discuss the effects of the Government's action and come out with a joint strategy to resolve all the outstanding issues.

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The views expressed in the Article above are Rakesh Kaul  personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:- Rakesh Kaul   Koshur Samachar 2008,May