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Sumit Hakhoo
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 22
With the stage set for Lok Sabha results, there is hope among militancy-displaced Kashmiri Pandits that whoever forms the next government will do justice with terror victims in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the exit polls are giving a clear edge to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), those affected by the continued turmoil in the Valley, especially the 3.50 lakh Pandits, say rehabilitation is a major concern for them.
Although the cumbersome formalities, including filing of mandatory M-Forms, deprived thousands of Pandits of the democratic process, leading to low turnout, but in three Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir — Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla — 13,518 voters of this minority community exercised their franchise.
“Those displaced due to militancy remain hopeful that the next government will not consider Pandit issue just an economic one but take steps to reverse it and deal firmly with anti-national elements in the state,” said Ajay Chrangoo, chairman of Panun Kashmir, a representative organisation of Pandits.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his election campaign rallies, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, had repeatedly mentioned the plight of Hindus of Kashmir, who were forced to leave their homeland in 1989-90. He had said the BJP was committed to rehabilitating them. But since 2014, no major initiative had been taken to resettle the community.
Low participation in Kashmir has added value to these few thousand votes of Pandits. “The number of Pandit voters is small but it could give a clear edge to candidates to win due to low participation of people in Anantnag constituency,” said GL Raina, BJP MLC, who coordinated the campaign among migrant voters.
“This election was fought on the issue of national security and terrorism and Pandits in state have suffered due to terrorism. Our resettlement should receive priority,” said Tej Krishan Bhat, a social activist.
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