Governance

Kashmiri Pandit body threatens Govt of ‘petition before United Nations, fast-unto-death’

Representative Image.

‘Will seek asylum in any part of the world where we will be also treated at par with humans’

‘Every State Subject Hindu is a Kashmiri Pandit in general, and by virtue of Clan (Gotra)’

Srinagar: Non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits on Thursday alleged that they are being pushed to the wall by the Department of Disaster Management for Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R), of Jammu and Kashmir, under “biased and criminal conspiracy” forcing 808 families to take “extreme steps” for survival.

In a statement, the Pandit body said that the local admin, including Commissioner Secretary are using “bureaucracy skills and tactics to sabotage” the recommendations, reports and directions issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Parliamentary Standing Committee and High Court of JK.

“Some officers from local administration are causing harassment and un-necessary discrimination between the words Kashmiri Pandit and Kashmiri Hindu. It is apt to mention here that every State Subject Hindu permanently living in Kashmir Valley is a Kashmiri Pandit in general and by virtue of “Gotra (Clan)” he or she is a Kashmiri Brahmin or Khatri or Rajputs etc.”

“Either resolve the legitimate grievances within 10 days else we will go for fast-unto-death and will also file a petition before the United Nations for asylum in any other part of the world,” the statement said.

In an online petition, the body has mentioned that at least 150 non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits are Below Poverty Line (BPL) households where people struggle for food and medical care.

Apart from economic challenges, over 500 youth who are eligible for the government’s employment schemes are yet to be given these benefits. Security cover provided to the community was also withdrawn in 2018, the statement added.

The Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), a partner organisation of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), has made multiple representations to different central, state and now Union Territory (UT) authorities.

According to the statement, they have met three Prime Ministers, HD Deve Gowda, Manmohan Singh and current PM Narendra Modi; however, nothing has changed on the ground.

 

Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join.

Click to comment
To Top