In the ongoing assembly session when migration of Kashmiri pandits entered 29 years both the houses of Jammu and Kashmir unanimously passed a resolution seeking return of Kashmiri pandits to Valley. While in the lower house the resolution was moved by former JK chief minister Omar Abdullah who is also the opposition leader, in the Upper House the resolution was moved by Bharitya Janta Party legislator Surinder Amberdar who himself is a Kashmiri pandit and lives in exile. The passing of resolution is a welcome step and apart from the passing resolution the government should initiate further steps that will at least motivate the younger generation of Kashmiri pandits to move towards their home land. Who is responsible for the migration of pandits from Kashmir has different version but one thing is clear that Valley is incomplete without the Kashmiri pandits and majority of people in Valley want them back. With the dignified return of this exiled community, the valley will reclaim the lost glory of composite culture what it was known for centuries. Both mainstream political parties as well as other stake holders have turned the return of Kashmiri pandits a political issue that is actually harming the interests of the community even this time Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits enjoy close bonding despite the atmosphere has been vitiated time to time over pretty issues. Nobody disagrees that community has suffered after they left their native villages when violent political turmoil erupted in valley in 1989 but the majority community has also suffered in the past 29 years as thousands have lost their lives due to the prevailing circumstances. Both Centre and state governments should not turn the return of pandits to their native places into political issue instead deal it as a humanitarian issue. Announcements of packages and jobs are not sufficient for the return of Kashmir pandits instead government has to walk extra miles and initiate serious and threadbare discussion with all the major stake holders to get the members of this community back. Separatists who are opposing separate colonies for pandits have also welcomed the return of pandits to Valley. Though on experiment basis the government had constructed houses and colonies for the pandit employees in different parts of the Valley but these colonies lack even basic facilities and in the harsh winter months when Kashmir observers subzero temperature it is difficult to live in those colonies. Sixteen years ago when dozens of families returned voluntarily to north Kashmir’s Baramulla town the promises made to them by the government were never fulfilled forcing many of them again to return Jammu. Likewise state government officials never discouraged pandits selling their land and houses in Kashmir despite the ban. Unless serious steps would be taken only resolution is never going to pave way for return of pandits.
From the print edition of Jan 25 to 31.
