Kashmir Pandits seek exclusive township, say PM must act

Kashmiri Pandits have objected to "politics" being played over their return to the Valley and rehabilitation, with some of them saying that a separate township should be created exclusively for them.

The kin of several of those killed by militants in the late '80s also say they do not have enough resources now to buy back the properties they had left behind after the killings at that time. 

"A township exclusively for the community is the need of the hour. If the prime minister is really serious about applying balm on our wounds, he must act and go ahead with the plan to establish such a township," Ashutosh Taploo, son of Tika Lal who was among the earliest members of the community to have been killed by militants then, said.

Tika Lal, who was also a national executive member of the BJP, was gunned down by militants on September 14, 1989 when he was on his way to his office in a Srinagar court.

Ashutosh expressed resentment over the "undue politics" being played over the rehabilitation issue and said that the situation was not conducive for their return to their native places.

He claimed that the opposition by separatists to the proposal of setting up of a composite township for Kashmiri Pandits was part of a "conspiracy" to ensure that they do not return to the Valley.

Alliance partners PDP-BJP recently spoke in different voices on composite townships for settlement of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

While Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has said no separate clusters would be built for the displaced community, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that there was no change in the Centre's view on it.

Nearly 62,000 pandit families, who migrated out of the Valley when militancy broke out in late 1989, are living in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country.

While the state assembly was informed last year that 219 KPs were killed that time, community leaders like King C Bharti of the All Party Migrants Coordination Committee claim the figure would be over 600.

Author Rahul Pandita said "majority of them (KPs) don't own any property and don't even have enough resources to buy their properties back... A composite township can provide them with a safe and secure environment to live in."

He said at the time of the 'exodus', "there was distress sale, when they were forced to sell their property at throwaway prices."

Documentary filmmaker Sandeep Kaul said he was only ten when militants blew up their house in Kulgam district and shot his father and grandfather. "It would be impossible for me and my family to return to our native place and live there."

He said the idea of a 'composite township' for the community was a well thought-out plan that, apart from providing the much-needed security, would also help preserve the culture and tradition of the community.

"A composite township where the people who had to migrate can live under a safe and secure environment is much needed as KashmirValley continues to remain in the grip of terrorism," Sandeep said.

"Besides the township, providing the much-needed security to the community would help preserve our culture and tradition," he added.