Kashmiri Pandits living in the camp township at Jagti, Muthi, Purkhoo and Mishriwala here are “puzzled” by the attitude of the Central government after Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to make any mention about the proposed composite township for the displaced community in the Valley during his November 7 speech in Srinagar.
Since the formation of the BJP-led government at the Centre, 3.50 lakh Pandits, who left Kashmir in 1990 after the eruption of militancy, were hopeful of resettlement as the Union Government had earlier announced a composite township for the community. However, the plan was dropped following fierce opposition from the separatist lobby.
The Rs 80,000-crore financial package announced by Modi includes Rs 5,263 crore for providing jobs to Kashmiri migrant youth, rehabilitation of refugees from Chhamb and PoK, construction of houses and setting up of five battalions of the Indian Reserve Police.
The establishment of five IRP battalions is expected to create 4,000 jobs for the Jammu and Kashmir youth.
“The Central government has totally surrendered itself to the whims of separatists, who opposed the move (composite township for Pandits in the Valley). There is no policy for the refugees living in J&K, which includes Pandits, PoK and West Pakistan refugees,” said Shadi Lal Pandita, president, Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC).
During the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, issues concerning the Pandit community were raised on many occasions. But at that time, the Central Government had expressed its inability to meet the demands of community saying that they did not have the majority in Parliament.
“But now, the party has absolute majority at the Centre. It is also coalition partner in J&K. Still, nothing has been done and there is total silence among the leaders,” said Kamal Kumar Raina, who lives in the Muthi camp.
Although the PDP and the BJP had agreed in principle to examine rehabilitation and employment package announced by the UPA government in 2008, but so far there has been no agreement on how to go ahead with the plan, keeping in view the opposition by separatists.
