With the change in power at centre came a new hope for Kashmiri Pandits to return to the valley (Kashmir). Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his maiden visit to the state put it very much in open that it’s high time the Kashmiri Pandits return to their homeland. This isn’t a first attempt that has been made towards addressing the long pending issue of their rehabilitation. Governments before too have tried to put a full stop to the issues of Pandits but the line is too big to be ended so very easily. Under UPA government there were funds released for their resettlement and rehabilitation and also various jobs were created in different departments under Prime Minister’s Special Job Scheme (3000).
The state Government too along with other political parties have shown their concern for the welfare of Pandits, come it anyway. The various Separatist wings in the Valley too are open to the idea of safe return of Kashmiri Pandits. But the picture isn’t all that rosy as it looks. Merely focusing on the return on KPs to their rightful home in Kashmir without bringing the people who have to come and the people who have to receive them have to be taken into confidence.
Though the mood among the Kashmiris in the Valley is of welcoming their Pandit brotherhood whole heartedly, it has also to be seen whether the Kashmiri Pandits settled in different parts of the country really want to return to their homeland. I am asking this question because it has been 24 long years since they left the Valley leaving their properties behind under nobody’s custody. These 24 years have seen them taking a leap in their lives like every individual would do if he loses his house, his culture, his environment. There would be very less number of population of KPs who would like to return to the Valley without any hindrances and second thoughts. The younger generation of KPs is doing well for they have settled in different metro cities of the country, having jobs in MNCs and the remaining over the years have managed to buy pieces of land in the summer capital of the State (Jammu) and build their own houses.
More so if the KPs happen to return and with Governments plans to settle them in separate settlements/rehabilitation zones, it must be very careful in doing so as it could potentially create social tensions. Any attempt by the Government to bring back the KPs through the feeding spoon of rehabilitation zones will not be a lasting solution to this long pending issue.
As all this is happening on the other hand there are Kashmiri Pandit bodies like Panun Kashmir which has sought for the creation of a centrally administered Union Territory in Kashmir for sustainable and viable rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. Panun Kashmir reiterates that no other solution for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. Another body, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) is against the proposal of the return of KPs to their original locations.
On the other hand the maiden budget presentation of Finance Minister, Arun Jaitely saw the allocation of Rs 500 Cr for the relief and rehabilitation to the Kashmiri Pandits. The state Cabinet too has envisaged the package to 3000 jobs and Rs 20 lakh to each KP family for reconstruction of the house. There are already KPs staying in Transit Camps in different districts of the Valley under the then Prime Minister’s Special Job Scheme (3000 of them).
Whatever may be the scenario, in the current situation there are no more fowl games played and a solution is bought to the long impending issue of the Kashmiri Pandit return.
