Dear Editor
Kashmiri Pandits living as forcibly displaced persons, being called as migrants are highly thankful to the people of Jammu, who gave them shelter and comforts of sorts after their genocide and forced exodus from their native places in the valley of Kashmir, in the years 1989-90, due to the onslaught of militancy in Kashmir. KP’s have been living in Jammu as displaced migrants of Kashmir for the last more than 34years, when it is so great of the Jammu people to have accommodated them at the cost of their civic and other facilities.
Now probably the newly constituted government in J & K wants their exodus from Jammu too, when their first mass exodus occurred from Kashmir, in the year 1989-90, which occurred when this very political party was ruling the state of Jammu and Kashmir at that point of time. Reasons are obvious.
In a bizarre action at least 12 temporary mini shops, located at Muthi, Jammu, which were the primary source of livelihood and income for some destitute KP’s migrants of Kashmir, living as refugees in their own country, for the past 34 years, were got demolished by the present government authorities, ruthlessly and mercilessly. These shops were not only a means of survival for them, but also a source of existence for the them as a displaced community from Kashmir. These demolitions were done against the canons of law recommended for such demolitions. No prior notice as required as per the rules and regulations prescribed for such demolitions, were given to these innocent shop holders, before such demolitions. It is a clear violation of the norms of justice and the fundamental rights of these innocent people.
Presuming though not conceding that these mini shop structures were unauthorized in nature, but no government authority for the last more than 34 years, when so many governments changed hands in J & K since then, demolished these shops as unauthorized structures till date during the last 34 years. Reasons can be obvious. Not to allow the displaced KP’s to live in Jammu too.
No one amongst the ruling clan has so for condemned it. It is circumstantially shrouded with an aim of political mystery and vendetta. It bears testimony to one of the points of the political election manifesto of this political party which is now again ruling J &K, about the changing the names of the most sacred religious places of Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir, the Shankaracharya in to “Takht-e-Suleiman” and Hari Parbat, in to “Koh-e-Maran”. It looks speaks acrimonious. What can be expected by the displaced KP’s under the circumstances?
“The whole nation, is well aware of the plight of the forcibly Kashmiri Pandits , who have been living in exile since their forced exodus and genocide of 1989-90, from Kashmir, Despite their prolonged displacement, both the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir state administration have failed to implement any effective rehabilitation policy for them. This inaction has resulted in continued suffering for these displaced KPs migrant families who continue to be in absolute dilemma for the same.
This act of willful and illegal demolition of these shops of some migrant KP’s at Muthi, Jammu, is strongly condemned. It is hoped that this inhumane and illegal act of illegal demolition will be got probed by the government authorities in power presently as early as possible and stern action taken against the defaulters in this regard. Shri Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is equally requested to restore the temporary shops of the affected Kashmiri Pandit migrants, so that they do not face starvation and further hardships. Furthermore, those responsible for this heartless action should be held accountable and punished according to the law. If under the garb of Roshini act thousands of acres of government land can be allotted to people of influence and political favors, why cannot these small patches of lands on which these demolished shops were constructed, be permanently allotted to these affected migrant shop owners to earn their bread and butter and live with dignity. Hope that the government of the day will show its commitment to rehabilitate KP’s back in Kashmir as per their election manifest, by restoring the lost position of these KP migrant shop owners, who are in deep distrust due to such illegal demolitions. Better said than done.
P.L Khushu