Even as the BJP-led government in New Delhi has appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Dineshwar Sharma as the special representative for Jammu and Kashmir, displaced Kashmiri Pandits are feeling sidelined.
Ever since the appointment of Sharma to “hold talks with stakeholders in Kashmir”, not even a single mention has been made of the 3.5 lakh Hindus who were forced to leave the Valley by terrorist groups in 1989-90. Majority of the community members have been living in camps in Jammu for the last 27 years.
When it comes to the new initiative by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, there is not much enthusiasm among people, as recommendations by previous interlocutors have achieved little success in paving a way for the return of the Pandits to their homeland.
“Has Dineshwar Sharma been given a mandate to build resistance against militant groups and strengthen nationalist forces or give legitimacy to separatist elements? There is no clarity. We don’t see any change in our situation because the previous experiences have shown us that New Delhi has no clear policy towards addressing our issues,” said Ajay Chrangoo, chairman, Panun Kashmir.
Sushil Pandit, a prominent social activist, said experiments on Kashmir had, so far, given no notable outcome. “There is not even a ritual mention of the Kashmiri Hindus who suffered at the hands of terrorists and were forced to leave the Valley. Recommendations of reports prepared in the past two decades are gathering dust and the fate of the displaced population remains uncertain,” said Pandit.
When it comes to the new mission, there are only confusing signals, with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh giving contradictory statements on the issue. Besides, groups in the Jammu and Ladakh regions are feeling ignored.
“When the Home Minister says that the interlocutor has to ascertain the aspirations of people, it raises doubts about who are on the radar. Talks should be held with those who suffered due to militancy and have been targeted by Pakistan-supported terror groups,” said Dr Mahesh Kaul, consultant, Centre for Good Governance and Administrative Reforms.
In the last two decades, Pandit representatives have been invited for talk on several occasion, but there is no change in the ground situation in the Valley. In fact, over 2,000 youngsters who returned to the Kashmir in 2010 under employment package are facing difficult conditions and the governments at the Centre and state have maintained a stoic silence on their plight.
Displaced Kashmiri Pandits feel sidelined
