Kashmiri Pandits seek creation of UT

The organisation demanded creation of “a separate self-administered Union Territory for Kashmiri Pandits” within Kashmir by reorganising the state to “fulfill the legitimate political aspirations of different regions.”“This territory to be called as `Panun Kashmir’ be fully and totally integrated with the Union of India in true letter and spirit of the Constitution of India without any binding shackles,” the group, which also included noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, told the Prime Minister.

Till the completion of the “constitutional, administrative and financial framework” for this demand, the group demanded enhancement of cash relief to the migrants from the maximum of Rs 2,400 per family per month to Rs 7,000 per family per month uniformly.

Alleging that “the national polity has miserably failed the Pandits” after their displacement from Kashmir, the delegation told Vajpayee that his government “represents the last hope for the beleaguered community.”Other demands include reactivation of the Central Government’s Kashmir cell and making it "more vibrant and responsive towards the community’s aspirations by inducting at least three Kashmiri Pandits into it.

It also sought infrastructural support for creating a Kashmiri Pandit Cultural and Heritage Centre at Jammu for preserving the rich cultural heritage of the community and save it from extinction.

A commission of inquiry be set up to establish factors responsible for the exodus of Kashmir Pandits from the Valley, the organisation demanded.

The organisation also demanded declaration of the migrant community members as “internally displaced people”.

A march was also organised to mark the completion of 10th year in "exile", which had participation of representatives from some other Kashmiri Pandit groups, including All India Kashmiri Samaj and All India Kashmiri Pandit conference.

Bhatt, who had flown specially from Mumbai to join the March, said he had come to express his support to the community’s movement. He said he specially urged Vajpayee to solve the problems of Kashmiri Pandits.

Asked by newsmen to comment on the hijacking incident and release of militants in that episode, Bhatt said "we should accept defeat so that we can deal with such situations effectively and win."

"What had started in 1989 came out in the shape of a demon in 1999," he remarked and said that the country was waking up and addressing its "weaknesses". Agnishekhar said the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits had marked a setback to the country’s secularism.