Kashmiri Pandit Leader Starts Fast-Unto-Death; Accuses Govt Officials Of Sabotaging Financial Aide Directed By MHA

According to the local Hindus, hundreds of representations have been submitted to all concerned authorities about the situation but the government officials are sabotaging the whole process of Jobs and Rehabilitation of Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits.

Photo: Asif Qureshi

Leader of a Kashmiri Pandit organisation has started a fast unto death in Srinagar demanding implementation of a relief and rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri Hindus who had stayed back in Kashmir. Accusing the Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) Department of being punitive against the Kashmiri Hindus for staying back in Kashmir Valley, Sanjay Tickoo, President of Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti started his fast unto death at Ganesh Mandir located at Ganpatyaar area of Habba Kadal in Srinagar. Sanjay said that since the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits – Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir Valley are facing harassment and isolation at the hands of the Relief Department. He said that despite multiple directions from High Court and recommendations from the Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Relief Department was playing with the life and security of the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits. According to the local Hindus, hundreds of representations have been submitted to all concerned authorities in UT and Centre since June 2020 about the situation but the government officials are sabotaging the whole process of Jobs and Rehabilitation of Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits. A delegation of KPSS had also met Lieutenant Governor in July and submitted a detailed memorandum briefing him about the situations which 808 Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandit families. "But the representations and meetings have not worked till now and now I am forced to take the extreme step of going for a fast until either our demands are met or I die" , Said Sanjay Tickoo. The demands being raised by the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti are:

• KPSS demand Vigilance inquiry against the officers of the Relief Department for deliberately stalling and sabotaging Relief and Rehabilitation of Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits – Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir Valley and misusing their official positions to harm Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir Valley.
• Implementation of High Court directions and recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding Jobs to the unemployed educated Kashmiri Pandit/Kashmiri Hindu youths.
• DMRR&R deliberately delayed the process by more than four years as such give one time age relaxation to all the over-age candidates’ w.e.f. 31.05.2016 (date of the judgment passed by Hon’ble High Court in OWP 1986/2013 titled Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti and others Vs. Union of India and others)
• Easy and stress-free process of providing Bonafide Certificates to all the aspirants as per SRO 425 dated 10.10.2017.
• Monthly financial aid to 808 Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandit families living in Kashmir Valley
• Providing accommodation to all deserving Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandit – Kashmiri Hindu families living in Kashmir Valley as per recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Extension of benefits of Migrant Welfare Fund to the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits – Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir Valley.