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Advani promises to study demands of Kashmiri Pandits

Union Home Minister L K Advani has assured a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits that the Centre would give serious thought to their demands.

The delegation had presented a memorandum to the home minister, demanding adequate representation for Pandits in the national and Jammu and Kashmir legislatures and appointment in important positions in the state's administrative and judicial machinery.

The memorandum also demanded their representation in various high-power commissions, the appointment of a compact commission with the "widest possible terms" to uncover the "ground realities" in Kashmir and another commission to identify the prime criminals.

It demanded a resolution to be passed in the state legislature as well as Parliament, acknowledging that atrocities were committed against Pandits who were fleeing their homeland to "escape death and dishonour."

It said the exiled community should be described as refugees and not as migrants.

The Pandits' economic and social demands include establishment of self-contained townships complete with all educational and other facilities, special provisions for admission of their children in institutions including universities and professional colleges, reopening of the registration for those who have not registered and economic benefits.

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