After the successful Pran Prathishta for the abode of Lord Ram in Ayodhya Nagri, the expectations for Gharvapsi of 700,000 Kashmiri Pandits have skyrocketed, the native Kashmiri community living in exile for the last 34 years are longing to return home—the Valley.
Speaking at a civil society meeting at India International Centre this evening, in which former governors, academicians, civil servants and strategic community members participated, Ashok Bhan, chairman, Kashmir (Policy and Strategy) Group (KPSG), said a dialogue with the stakeholders and an intra-community dialogue will help in giving closure to the sordid and brutal phase of societal devastation, death and destruction that has engulfed the larger South Asian region in general and Jammu & Kashmir in particular.
The people in the Kashmir Valley are carrying the burden as victims of conflict from 1947 and continuing consequences of armed insurgency resulting in exile of the religious minority and killings innocent civilians in the violence perpetrated by non-State actors, others brutalised by them include State actors. January 19, 1990 was a black day in Kashmir’s glorious history. On this day, the whole population of Kashmiri Pandit community was exiled by gun-toting terrorists and since then are living as refugees in their own country. KPSG has always urged the Union Government to engage with KPs and plan their safe and dignified return back home.
Without KPs, the Kashmiri civilisational ethos is incomplete in these modern times and in the vision for Naya Kashmir.
The time has come to give legitimate right to democracy to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and end the prolonged Governor rule. The elections to the legislature can be held along with the ensuing parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court has also commanded the elections to be held not later than September 2024.
In its Article 370 verdict, the Supreme Court’s message is loud and clear: Move forward and focus on the future of Jammu and Kashmir rather than brood over its sordid past!
The judges held that the social fabric is waning and inter-generational trauma has already fractured Kashmiri society. In order to heal wounds and make a forward movement and restore coexistence, the Court said a truth and reconcialition commission should be set up expeditiously to investigate and report on the human rights violations by non-State and State actors at least since 1980s and recommend measures for reconciliation. The judge said the exercise should be time-bound since memories can fade, Bhan said.
Former Governors, including BN Singh, echoed that if the ground-level reports about situation in Jammu and Kashmir are to be believed, then should this not be an opportune time to hold elections along with general elections to save administrative hassle and use taxpayer’s money appropriately besides respect the Supreme Court commandments.
Dr MM Ansari said if the current government thought process is one nation one elections then Kashmir provides an opportunity for simultaneous elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Parliament.