Kashmiri Hindus seek 3 townships for resettlement

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 31

Displaced Kashmiri Hindus living in camps of Jammu have demanded establishment of three townships in the Valley for the resettlement of 3.50 lakh Pandits saying it is the only solution to end their 30-year exile and restore confidence of minorities.

Post abrogation of Article 370, Pandits had expressed hope that the BJP-led government at the Centre would take effective steps to restore land and properties encroached upon by the land mafia in Kashmir after the exodus of the community in 1990, following the eruption of separatist insurgency.

“One township should be established at Anantnag to rehabilitate families belonging to Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, second township at Shekhpora in Srinagar and third township at Baramulla for those Pandit families who hail from Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora. This is the only way to ensure safety and security of minorities”, said SL Pandita, president, Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC). There is unanimity among the community representatives as most of the residential properties are in a shambles for the past three decades, it is near impossible for the families to resettle in their original place of residence.

Separate township on the pattern of Jagti camp in Jammu was first mooted way back in 2008-09. The land identification process was started in 2012-13 when the state was ruled by the Congress-National Conference (NC) government.

After the BJP came to power in 2014, the government had claimed that 723 kanals in different places in the Valley had been identified, but there was no headway due to lack of interest by the political parties and opposition by the separatists.

Migrant families living in Jagti, Muthi, Nagrota and Purkhoo have appealed Lt- Governor Girish Chandra Murmu to involve the community in the formulation and implementation of the plan. “Though the Central Government has time and again assured permanent rehabilitation of the community in the Valley, nothing in this direction has been done so far. We have just been given assurances”, said Raj Nath Raina, who lives in Muthi.

Other demands raised by the community include compensation for the damaged losses of properties. Taking legal action against those who have encroached upon religious properties of the minorities and speeding up of recruitment under the Prime Minister Employment package.