STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Amid uncertainty and confusing approach to deal with grievances of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community in reference to deteriorating situation in Kashmir, PDP-BJP government has not come up with a concrete policy to ensure honourable rehabilitation and return of KPs to Valley.
This was stated by former Minister and JKPCC Vice President Raman Bhalla while addressing the PM Package employees who are on protest outside Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner demanding settlement in Jammu till situation improves in Kashmir.
Stating that the lack of resources and avenues to engage youth in meaningful ways will always drive youth towards the miscreants in the society, he said that the Government has to devise a policy about how to channelise this youth bulge constructively. Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said that both Central and State governments should clear their stand for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and should come out with concrete policy over the issue. He said that despite repeated statements by leaders of PDP-BJP government over its commitment to start the process to resettle 3.5 lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits back in the Valley, the government has failed to come up with a policy on the issue.
The Centre and the state continue to view the plight of Pandits through the prism of economic doles and employment. Since the formation of coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on 1st March, confusion prevails over the approach to deal with grievances of the community. Although the PDP and BJP agreed in the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ to examine the rehabilitation package announced by the UPA government in 2008, both parties had been resorting to rhetoric. Both parties are doing lip service. Pressure from separatists is dictating the approach of the government to deal with Pandits, Bhalla lamented.
The former Minister further said that the state government continues to ignore the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, which had called for bringing a White Paper on militancy and steps taken to save property of Pandits encroached upon in the Valley.
The BJP, during elections had promised the community that the day they will come to power, they would start immediate process of their return besides separate colonies and jobs under the rehabilitation process, nothing has happened till now, he said. The members from Core Committee of All Migrant Employees Association Kashmir including Sunny Raina, Rubin Saoroo, Rajinder Pandita, Sidharth Kaw, Kamal Pandita, Ajay Bhat, Sunil Pandita, Vimal Raina, Sunkanya Ganjoo, Sweety Koul, Vimal Pandita and Satish Raina were also present.
