'Playing with Our Life and Security': Kashmiri Pandit Body Launches Protest Against J-K Admin

Srinagar: The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS), a prominent body of the community in Jammu and Kashmir, has accused the administration of inflicting “harassment and isolation” on them, especially after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A.

KPSS in a statement said that despite multiple directions from the J&K High Court and recommendations from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the union territory’s relief department is playing with the “life and security” of Kashmiri Hindus, who have not migrated and continue to live in the Valley.

“Since June 2020, hundreds of communications stand submitted to all concerned authorities in UT and Centre about the vicious and morally corrupt staff of Relief Department,” the body said.

Sanjay Tickoo, a rights activist who leads the body, has started a sit-in protest and claimed to carry on a fast-unto-death against the disaster management relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction department.

Sanjay said that certain situations are created which lead to sabotage in the process of jobs and rehabilitation of Hindus living in the Kashmir Valley. These situations, he said, demand under-the-table deal negotiation with the officials of the Relief Department to get the directions of the Court and recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs implemented on the ground.

A delegation of KPSS has earlier met with the Lt. Governor (LG) of the UT on August 27, following which they were assured by the LG’s office that steps will be taken on priority to sort the issues associated with what the body refers to as the “survival” and “existence” of over 800 non-migrant Kashmiri pandits. “But till date, no action stands taken on the issues,” the body said.

The body has now issued seven demands in their statement asking for a vigilance inquiry against the officials of the relief department, which they believe are “stalling and sabotaging” the relief and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Hindus in the valley.

The demands also include the implementation of High Court directions and recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding jobs to the unemployed, educated Kashmiri Pandit youth and finally, the extension of benefits of Migrant Welfare Fund to the Kashmiri Hindus living in the valley.

Tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits migrated from Kashmir valley fearing persecution after the outbreak of insurgency in the region in 1990s. Many insurgent groups including the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) targeted Kashmiri Pandits leading to massive fear in the community after scores of them were assassinated. A few of them stayed back. Since then many amongst them have accused the government of partiality.