As Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone of a colony for the displaced families of Kashmiri Pandits at Jagati in the outskirts of the winter capital of J&K, during his visit to Jammu on July 15, it has created apprehension in the minds of displaced Kashmiri Pandits that this might further discourage their return.
Angry and disappointed over the ?hollow? claims of the government regarding the return of the displaced Pandits back to the valley and rehabilitating them in safer zones, the Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) allege that central and state governments are not sincere about the issue. They aver that creation of colonies and townships for displaced Pandits in Jammu will further discourage their community people from returning back to valley.
?What is the need of creating a township for migrated Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu, when government is making tall claims about bringing them back to the valley? They are deceiving us and there is no sincerity in their claims,? said Ashok Kangan, state president, Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM).
Strongly criticising the government decision to shift the Kashmiri Pandits from various camps in Jammu to Jagati in Nagrota as another displacement for the community, he said that if central and state governments are really sincere towards the return of displaced Pandits to their homeland then such a township should be constructed in Kashmir valley.
While addressing a press conference, national vice president of JKVM, Dr R.L. Bhat, its state president Ashok Kangan and senior functionary, Dr M.K. Bharat alleged that there is a lot of resentment among the displaced community over the government'smove. The Manch leaders made it clear that shifting of camps to Jagati will not provide any succour to displaced people but further add to their problems.
They said the Jagati move is a part of the game plan to scuttle the return process of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland completely. ?The bigger township means permanent settlement and we demand it in Kashmir valley where we have roots?, said Dr R.L. Bhat.
He accused the government of furthering the jehadi agenda by keeping the Pandit minorities outside Kashmir. The entire community is totally against the move as the government is following the agenda of ISI this way, he added.
Lambasting the government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh, he said it did nothing over the years for the uplift of the community. The Prime Minister is playing tricks and the concern shown by him during his last visit at migrant camp Muthi was nothing except deception, he added.
Accusing the government of denying the allotment of two-room sets to migrants constructed in different camps, Ashok Kangan alleged the community has lost all faith in the government. He warned that the Pandits will launch protest against the government decision to shift the camps at Jagati.
The All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) president A.N. Vaishnavi warned that his organisation will hold demonstrations in case the migrants putting up at Mishriwala, Muthi and Purkhoo were dislocated.
Vaishnavi was talking to a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits from these camps who urged him to persuade the government not to go ahead with shifting of the camps to Jagati. He assured these migrants that they will not be dislocated from the present camps. Vaishnavi urged the government to adopt the policy of economic rehabilitation for the community.
The KP leaders submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister on behalf of the displaced KPs soon after the foundation-laying ceremony of the migrant township at Jagati, 25-km from Jammu city.
It demanded reservation in Jammu and Kashmir Legislature and government jobs for the community as well as setting-up of three townships in Kashmir valley for their rehabilitation. It said at least three such satellite townships should be set up in Kashmir immediately with a ?self-governing arrangement?.
In order to restore political rights to Kashmiri Pandits in the state, the memorandum demanded the reservation of three Assembly seats in the State Legislature.
It also demanded reservation in central and state services including banks, public sector undertakings (PSUs), autonomous bodies and educational institutions for the community.
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