Rehabilitation and repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits a political agenda?

The issue of rehabilitation and repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits has always been on the agenda of political parties during elections. But today the issue has become complicated and homecoming has become the most sensitive issue for Kashmiri Pandits living outside the valley, writes ETV Bharat's Mir Ishfaq.

Anantnag (J&K): The displacement of Kashmiri Pandits began after the beginning of the armed insurgency in Kashmir in the 1990s. According to official figures, within a few years, 64,951 Pandit families migrated and settled in different states of the country, including Jammu. The issue of rehabilitation and repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits has always been on the agenda of political parties during elections. But today the issue has become complicated and homecoming has become the most sensitive issue for Kashmiri Pandits living outside the valley. At that time there were a number of Kashmiri Pandits who preferred to stay in the valley at all costs, numbering about 5,000. But a large number of Kashmiri Pandits are still living in different cities of the country for almost 31 years now. They have migrated from here and settled in other states.

Kashmiri Pandits say that all the governments which have come to power till date have only made empty promises regarding the rehabilitation and repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits. In 2004 and 2008, the then UPA government led by Manmohan Singh had announced a package of Rs 1,618 crore for the repatriation and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.

Later, the BJP in its 2014 election manifesto assured the return of Kashmiri Pandits with security and economic stability. Even before the re-election in 2019, the BJP's election manifesto was that it would ensure the dignified and safe return of Kashmiri Pandits. Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had even announced a special package of Rs 500 crore for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the 2014 Union Budget. In 2017, Union Minister Rajnath Singh had announced the government's decision to build 6,000 transit residences for Pandits in Srinagar. However, it has not yet been implemented.

Following the Union Minister's announcement, a statement was issued by the LG administration stating that 6,000 jobs and 6,000 new homes would be built for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, to which the the latter expressed outraged, saying that the decision was taken by Manmohan Singh in 2009 and there was nothing new in it.

People have different opinions about the return of Kashmiri Pandits, some say that the young class of Pandits who were born outside Kashmir do not have much connection with Kashmir and homecoming does not mean anything to them. Some say that Pandits of an age who have spent some time in Kashmir or who have endured armed insurgency want to return home. However, the proposal was criticized by Kashmiri Muslims and political parties. An initiative was launched during the UPA regime in which about 1,500 Kashmiri Pandits returned to Kashmir under the Prime Minister's package. They were given government jobs and government quarters were built for them. It was also called transit campuses or migrant Pandit colonies.

Pandits working in the Valley under the PM package have repeatedly demanded that the administration transfer them permanently to Jammu, especially during the unfavorable situation in 2016 after the death of militant commander Burhan Wani, wherein the situation in the valley had become complicated. In view of this demand, the employees were protesting for several days in a row. They said that only hollow claims have been made for their rehabilitation and resettlement in a dignified manner and no significant steps have been taken at the grassroots level till date in this regard. Living in cramped quarters, their lives have become indigestible. They are facing severe difficulties due to lack of space in the quarters and unavailability of basic facilities.

Despite them having raised their voice several times about the new flats each time, their requests have been ignored. In the past, in addition to many leading politicians, LG's advisers have also visited here, yet their problems are unresolved. However, at the grassroots level, the issue is still unresolved, according to Kashmiri Pandits.

There is no significant difference between resettlement and repatriation before and after the repeal of Section 370. However, Kashmiri Pandits still say they hope the government will soon take a big step towards their long-standing issues and demands, especially homecoming.