Srinagar, Jun 15: Reiterating their collective desire to return to their ancestral homeland, members of the Kashmiri Pandit community on Monday called for concrete measures to facilitate their rehabilitation, including the establishment of a dedicated township in Rainawari and enhanced opportunities for community-led investment in the Valley.
Addressing a press conference here after the conclusion of the week-long ‘Global Kashmiri Pandit Heritage Tour’ and the two-day international conclave ‘Praagaash’ at SKICC, community representative, Dr Surinder Kaul, as reported by the news agency KNO, said the initiative marked a significant step towards reconnecting displaced Kashmiri Pandits, particularly the younger generation, with their civilisational roots and cultural heritage.
Dr Kaul said the Heritage Tour, conducted from June 6 to 12, covered several temples, shrines, ashrams and historical sites across Kashmir.
“For the first time in 36 years, members of our community came together to undertake a structured heritage tour across Kashmir. The objective was to reconnect our people, especially the youth, with their roots, traditions and civilisational heritage,” he said.
He said the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989-90 had scattered the community across different parts of India and the world, creating concerns about preserving its identity and cultural continuity.
“Our biggest challenge over the past three decades has been safeguarding our heritage and ensuring that future generations remain connected with their roots,” Dr Kaul said, adding that they received an encouraging response from participants across age groups.
Referring to the ‘Praagaash’ conclave, the speakers said the event provided a platform for meaningful discussions on issues concerning rehabilitation, cultural preservation and the future of the displaced community.
They welcomed LG Manoj Sinha’s remarks during the conclave, particularly his reference to the events of 1989-90 as a “genocide”, describing it as an important acknowledgement of the pain and suffering endured by the community.
Calling for a structured rehabilitation policy, the community representatives urged the government to explore the development of a township in Rainawari, one of the historic centres of Kashmiri Pandit habitation in Srinagar.
“A planned township can provide a secure and dignified environment for returning families and serve as a hub for educational, cultural and community institutions that can help revive the community’s presence in Kashmir,” Dr Kaul said.
The speakers called upon successful entrepreneurs and professionals from the Kashmiri Pandit community to invest in Valley and contribute to its economic growth.
“The time has come for us to give back to our motherland. Investment by members of the community can create opportunities, strengthen confidence and contribute to the prosperity of Kashmir,” Dr Koul said, adding that sustainable investment, however, requires an atmosphere of peace, stability and progress.
Expressing optimism about the future, the speakers said that despite the hardships endured over the last 35 years, the community remains committed to preserving its heritage, empowering its younger generations and working towards a peaceful, secure and dignified return to Kashmir. (KNO)
Panun Kashmir rejects NRI conclave narrative
The Panun Kashmir on Monday strongly criticised the recent conclave of NRI Kashmiri Pandits held in Srinagar following a heritage tour, alleging that the “government-sponsored event” sought to dilute the community’s long-standing political aspirations and misrepresent the realities faced by the community.
The Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, said the NRI group lacked any representative character and could not speak on behalf of the displaced community, accusing the conclave participants of promoting a narrative of “normalcy” in Kashmir while ignoring the continued concerns of “displaced families, Prime Minister Package employees and genocide survivors”.
The first community-led Global Kashmiri Pandit Heritage Tour and Conclave, titled ‘Praagaash’ (The First Light), was held in Srinagar from June 6 to 14 and attended by distinguished personalities of the Pandit community from India and abroad. The conclave adopted a resolution at the conclusion, outlining a roadmap for justice, rehabilitation, cultural preservation and the dignified return of the migrant community to the valley.
Addressing a press conference here, Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar questioned claims that the situation in Kashmir had fundamentally changed, citing security concerns faced by Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley.
He claimed that the “projection of normalcy was part of a broader attempt to showcase a deceptive normalcy” while sidelining unresolved issues relating to the community’s displacement.
He also objected to statements suggesting there were no grievances against the local population, arguing that such remarks diluted the causes and consequences of the 1990 exodus and the killings of Kashmiri Pandits.
He alleged that the conclave was facilitated by the Lt Governor-led administration and described it as a government-sponsored exercise aimed at weakening the community’s political demands.
It criticised proposals for the formation of another apex body for Kashmiri Pandits, claiming similar initiatives in the past had yielded no tangible results.
The group asserted that heritage was not limited to temples and religious sites but also included the suffering and displacement experienced by thousands of Kashmiri Pandit families living in camps and elsewhere outside the valley.
Agnishekhar accused successive governments of raising the Kashmiri Pandit issue during elections while failing to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation policy.
It also criticised Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for calling upon community members to invest in Kashmir without first addressing demands for justice, restitution and recognition.(PTI)
