Civil Society Reaches Out to Kashmiri Pandits

Amid political squabbling over proposed "composite townships" for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, a group of eminent citizens have joined hands to work for the dignified return of migrant pandits to their homes.

The civil society groups - consisting of people from Kashmiri Muslims, Pandits and Sikhs - say they will engage with displaced Pandits, government and all political parties to find an amicable solution that is not dictated by separatist calls or unilateral orders issued by the government.

The group says they are unanimous to protect Kashmir's composite culture and will not allow the segregation of Kashmiri society on religious lines.

"We want to listen to those who have to return... how do they want to come here. For example, my question is Ganpatyar, which is a revered Pandit shrine located in Downtown area, are they going to shift those important shrines to enclaves?" says Khuram Parvez of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

On Friday, separatists called for protests in which several people including eight policemen were injured. On Saturday, there was complete strike in all 10 districts of the Valley to protest against proposed composite townships. While there are several Pandit voices outside Kashmir who support composite townships, in Kashmir the majority of Pandits and Sikhs, who did not migrate, are opposing the idea.

"The valley belongs to everybody and we have to live together... We will fight against the central government's move tooth-and-nail. We oppose dividing society on sectarian lines," says Jagmohan Singh Raina, Chairman All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee.

"No one is opposing the return of Pandits. Everyone says they are welcome... Now is the issue of modalities. The modality of Panun Kashmir (separate homeland) has never been a reality because it is not practical and it will not work," says Kumar Ji Wanchoo, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit whose father was killed by militants in early 1990s.

Members of civil society groups say no one has the right to question the ownership and citizenship rights of Pandits on every part of Kashmir and they will fight to protect it.

"Kashmiri Pandit are our brethren... They are owners of this land and we don't want that right should be taken away from them but the way it is being thrusted on us will not provide any solution" said Zarief Ahmad Zarief, Kashmir poet and social activist.

Last week, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had asked Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to identify land for "composite townships" for Kashmir Pandits who left the Valley when the first wave of militancy began 25 years ago.

About three lakh Pandits had left the Valley in the 1990s. Many of those who did return in 2007 under a government job scheme say they are not happy. They live in migrant colonies and do not have basic amenities like a ration card or even a voter ID card.