Panun Kashmir meet criticises Mufti govt's policies

Political solution the only solution

KS Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 5: Panun Kashmir, the frontline Kashmiri Pandit organisation, spearheading the struggle for homeland organised a community meet here today. Despite freezing cold, the representatives of major organisations, leaders associated with national political parties, representatives from various refugee camps and other opinion makers in the community, joined together to deliberate upon the post-poll scenario in the state and its fallout on displaced Kashmiri Hindus.

Soon after assuming power governance and the healing touch to the people of war-ravaged state as its key policies. The earlier National Conference government had pursued patently communal policies to break the resolve of the Kashmiri Pandit community and pave way for its total expulsion from the state. The large scale litigation which this hapless community had to resort to, to redress the wrongs, would shame any civilised government. Be it the issue of jobs, promotions, service benefits, upgradation of civic amenities in refugee camps, protection of left-over property and shrines or the political empowerment, the sole aim of the NC leadership was to disinherit the community.

Dubious Methodologies

Would the new dispensation be different so far as the displaced Kashmiri Hindus are concerned? It has been more than two months this regime has been in power. Not a single gesture has flowed which could convey to the community that there was a government which took care of it. Explaining the background for convening this representative meeting, Panun Kashmir General Secretary, Mr Kuldeep Raina observed the situation was grim so far a the displaced Kashmiris were concerned. He said the policies pursued by the new government have baffled the common man. On one hand the state government declares its commitment to usher in good  governance, while on the other its decision to release the terrorists has led to worsening of the situation on the ground. Similarly, its much-hyped 'healing touch' initiative has bypassed the frontline victims of the ongoing war. The posturings of the new government on return have also created doubts, he added. Instead of engaging the popular leadership of Pandits in dialogue, the government was adopting coercive strategies and dubious methodologies. Mr Raina said the aim of convening the meet was to deliberate upon all the aspects linked to deprivations in exile and the core issue of rehabilitation.

The general consensus in the meeting was that the very posturings of state government on return smacked of a conspiracy. How come the state government had come to the conclusion that Kheerbhawani and Mattan villages were safe for Pandits' return? If conditions were ripe, why should the Moulvi of a local mosque lead the Pandits to their homes? Was it not the responsibility of state government to create conditions for return--establishing law and order, political mobilisation on the ground on the issue of return and against communalism, firm action against vested interests opposed to Pandits' return and the most important, engaging the popular leadership.

Total unanimity existed on that the return of Pandits for tokenist purposes and without creating conditions would ultimately destroy chance for Pandit's return in the not too distant future. The representatives agreed the ground situation has not changed since 1989. Infact, it has worsened, with Pandits' properties, jobs, shrines being grabbed under a systematic plan. The government had will to tackle this. It was also felt that government's methodologies for tokenist return sounded dubious. Instead of engaging the popular leadership, the state government was adopting dubious strategies and trying to foment divisions. This was ample proof that the state government was not sincere on Pandits' return. The leaders accused the state government of having extraneous considerations in the tokenist return plan. The representatives also agreed that problems of displaced Pandits were political in nature and their ongoing genocide had political ramifications. And only a political solution could tackle problems of this magnitude. Any attempt to circumvent the political aspect and trivalise the genocide would harm both the short-term and the long-term interests of the beleaguered community.

Camps were represented by Messers Roshan Lal Raina, Bhushan Lal Raina and PL Dhar. They articulated the camp perspective and informed that they were the first to denounce the so-called rehabilitation package as a gimmick. The camp leaders added they had also conveyed to Mr Ram Jethmalani and Ms Mehbooba Mufti to desist from 'divide and rule policy'. If at all they were sincere, they should initiate confidence-building measures and upgrade living conditions in camps and address the issue of unemployment. Mr Roshan Lal Raina alleged that the 'rehabilitation package' was a conspiracy hatched by successive governments to divide the dislocated community. He stressed the need to formlate a comprehensive policy for return and bringing the whole community, scattered all over the country, together.

Sunil Hali, a leading advocate said the successive governments have always talked about the alienation of Kashmiris, discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh but never talk about the miseries of Pandits. He regretted that the displaced community is always linked with rehabilitation. Mr Hali declared the demand of homeland was an assertion of political rights of Kashmiri Hindus.

In a thought-provoking speech, Prof ML Koul linked deprivations of Kashmiri Hindus to the rising crescendo of communalism in Kashmir. Mincing no words, he emphasised that all the governments in the state were communal and ignored Kashmiri Hindus since 1947. However, the things took a critical turn for the hapless KPs after their mass exodus in 1989. The refugees putting in camps and rented accommodation suffered in equal measure and were facing worst situation over past thirteen years. He wondered if the circumstances which led to mass exodus have remained unchanged, how come the state government has come to the conclusion that Pandits can return.

Prof. Kaul was, however, all praise for Kashmiri Pandit community, which, despite all odds, continued to struggle to explore the possibilities for a better tomorrow. Whatever the community has achieved since 1947 has been by its own efforts, he added. Prof Kaul demanded healing touch for Pandit refugees and asked Pandits to support a government that made sincere efforts to eradicate militancy.

Mr ON Trisal, veteran Congress leader who heads ASKPSC described Kashmir as an integral part of India, while Pandits were integral part of Kashmir. He argued, NC when in power favoured autonomy, while Hurriyat advocated Pakistani agenda but only Pandits desired to go with India. The Congress leader argued harbourers were no less dangerous than terrorists and called for strong action to curb funds flowing to terrorists. He pointed out Panun Kashmir as a vehicle of community's aspirations should be strengthened. He said, "Pandits reject a Kashmiriat which was just three two hundred years old and carried overtones of fundamentalism and excluvism. Pandits are proud inheritors of a Kashmiriat, which went back to five thousand years and was a part of Indic civilisation".

Mr Bhushan Lal Bhat, NC leader and former MLC said not all Muslims were supporting terrorism. He put the entire blame on Jamaat Islami. Mr Bhat said Kashmiri Pandits have always been made a scapegoat by the Central government. While describing return plan as premature, he impressed the need to look for the root cause of exodus. He suggested dialogue with government to address the problems being faced by the Pandit community.

In a brief intervention, Mr AK Dewani asked the community to prepare for a struggle to recover the shrines, grabbed in Valley by the vested interests. In his concluding speech, Dr Ajay Chrangoo, PK  President said Whenever state government talked about return thoughtlessly, it invited massacres and cited Sangrampora in this context. He ridiculed the government's move and said that there is no healing touch formula for KPs as no package to address deprivations has been framed till date.

He expressed doubts on the Mufti government's ideology on Kashmir and added the CM talks of restoration of democracy but negates the secularism by putting the cause of Kashmiri Pandits in backlog. Dr Chrangoo warned the ultimate success of democracy depended on pursuit of secularism. There was no democracy, which rejected secularism, he emphasised. He wondered how healing touch was possible till terrorist violence was brought down to manageable limits.

Panun Kashmir President asked the Chief Minister to articulate his position on Kashmir. He said Mufti's policies convey that he wants to maintain a position of equivocalness between India and Pakistan and also between mainstream politicians and the separatists. Doesn't it convey to the international community that fighting secessionism has taken a backseat and how could this government be trusted on return moves?

The assertions of Mufti that all efforts GoI made failed in Kashmir there is no alternative to GoI but to hold dialogue with separatist organisations, is also a cause of concern for the nationalistic forces, he said. The way he undermined his own position as CM as well as GoI's stand on Kashmir, he added.

Among others who attended the meeting included Sh M.L. Sopori, President BJP Kashmiri Displaced Cell, Sh Opinder Bhat, Convenor JK Nationalist Front, Jammu Chapter, Sh M.K. Tiku, Secretary ASKPC, Dr R.L. Bhat, a leading columnist, Sh PL Handoo retd. Deputy Director Doordarshan, Smt. Rajni Bhat Incharge Women Wing AKPSC.

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