Srinagar: Alleging that there was a huge vacuum between people and bureaucrats since August 5, 2019, Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) on Sunday said pundits, who stayed in Kashmir after mass migration by the members of the community in early 90s, were the worst hit.
In a statement here this afternoon KPSS Sanjay Tickoo said left out 808 families of Kashmir pundits are facing problems because some persons in the bureaucracy are showing cold shoulders towards them.
“ Since the August 5, 2019 there is a huge vacuum between general public with those bureaucrats who are in decision-making body in the Union Territory (UT) of J&K, and left out Kashmiri Pandit are worst sufferers of this vacuum which creates un-necessary hurdles”, he said. On August 5 last year centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A besides divided the state into two UTs.
Mr Tickoo who was leading a group of pundits, including women, who staged a dharna at Press Enclave here today said despite direction by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and High Court (HC) coupled with reports submitted by two Parliamentary Standing Committees in favour of left out members of the Pandit community nothing has changed. All these directions and recommendations were put into dust bin because of some hidden agenda, he alleged.
He further alleged that these officers and officials are using their bureaucratic and clerical skills to manipulate the facts to keep their superiors in dark in order to hide their incompetency. Tickoo alleged the Department of Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) and are playing with the lives of 808 left out Kashmiri Pandit and these families are made to suffer.
He said in June 2020 KPSS sent more than a hundred representations and communications Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs and Lt Governor of UT. Tickoo said Governor, Chief Secretary, and Secretary DMRR&R Central Government while taking cognizance to our plea responded back with a fresh Recommendation to UT to consider our demands in light of previous recommendations and implement the same on a priority basis. On the contrary, the Department of DMRR&R has chosen to neglect the directions and recommendations, he alleged.
He said today’s protest is a message that we will be left with no choice but to start fast unto death to get justice.
Our demands included extension of PM’s Job Package and apportionment of 500 posts, one job per family, providing of accommodation to all deserving Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandit, extension/providing of necessary financial assistance to all the 808 families, protection, preservation, and restoration of Temples and other religious institutions belonging to the religious minority in Kashmir Valley as per High Court directions.
