Hyderabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his address in Lok Sabha on February 13 said that the government has decided to rehabilitate all displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley by 2022.
The Hindu minority including Brahmins and followers of Shaivism constituted about 15% of the Kashmir valley population according to 1941 Census. By 1981 they were reduced to a mere 4% of the population, as cited in Our moon has blood clots, a memoir by Rahul Pandita.
Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits
A report by the Jammu and Kashmir government stated that 219 members of the Pandit community, out of the 1,400 Hindus, were killed in the region between 1989 and 2004 – but none thereafter.
Contradicting the government’s claims, Panun Kashmir, a political group representing the Pandits, published a list that stated 1,341 Pandits were killed since 1990.
According to political scientist Alexander Evans, 95 per cent of the Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley left in 1990 which would amount to 1,50,000 and 1,60,000 people.
A report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre of Norwegian Refugee Council in 2010 suggested that over 2,50,000 Pandits have been displaced since 1990.
Registered Kashmir Pandit families
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that due to the onset of militancy in Kashmir valley in the 1990s, the number of registered migrant families currently residing in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and elsewhere in the country is as follows:
| State/UT | No. of migrant families |
| Jammu | 43,618 |
| Delhi /NCR | 19,338 |
| Other state /UTs | 1995 |
| Total | 64,951 |
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BJP's election manifestos emphasised on return
BJP's 2019 election manifesto had stated that the Government would ensure safe return of Kashmiri Pandits. While, the party's manifesto in 2014 also stated assured return of Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral land with full dignity, security and livelihood.
Early promises of rehabilitation
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced Rs 500 crore special package for rehabilitation of Kashmir Pandits in the Union Budget 2014. In 2017, Union Minister Rajnath Singh had announced in Srinagar the government's decision to construct 6,000 transit accommodations for the Pandits – but this plan too did not turn into reality.
Meanwhile, it should also be noted that the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April 2008 had announced a proposal of Rs 1,618 crore package for the return and rehabilitation of Pandits following a similar package in 2004. The assistance offered for reconstruction or construction of houses was capped at Rs 7.5 lakhs.
Events that led to the Kashmir Pandits exodus
In 1984, Farooq Abdullah’s government in Jammu and Kashmir was toppled by his brother-in-law, Ghulam Mohd. Shah, also known as Gulshah. He then became the Chief Minister. Contrary to initial beliefs; he supposedly ran a rogue government. He allegedly started aggressive Islamisation in the valley.
Major anti-Pandit riots broke out in South Kashmir's Anantnag area in February 1986. Pandits were beaten up, women were raped, several houses and temples were burnt down.
Later in 1987, elections were held which was allegedly rigged by the Congress and Farooq Abdullah. The 'rigged' elections led to rise of separatists. The election worsened the issue and separatists, anti-India groups were united to contest elections to fulfil their ulterior motives. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) became active under Farooq Abdullah’s government. Religious conflict and communal hatred spread.
In July 1988, two low-intensity bombs rocked Srinagar and in September 1989, Tika Lal Taploo, who stood for the rights of Pandits was shot dead by armed men outside his residence.
After the resignation of Farooq Abdullah in the year 1990, President’s rule began in Jammu and Kashmir. There was a lot of political unrest and anti-Hindu movement spearheaded, instigating exodus. In January 1990, massive crowds assembled in mosques across valley shouting anti-India, anti-pandit slogans. In the next few months, hundreds of innocent Pandits were tortured, raped and killed. By the end of the year, about 350,000 Pandits had escaped from the valley and taken refuge in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere. Only a few stayed back.
In March 1997, militants dragged out seven Kashmiri Pandits from their houses in Sangrampora village and shot them. 23 Kashmiri Pandits, including women and children were shot in Wandhama village in January 1998. In March 2003, 24 Kashmiri Pandits, including infants were brutally shot dead in Nadimarg village. In August 2019, Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and the decision was welcomed by Kashmiri Pandits.
