B L Saraf
bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president, Tariq Hameed Karra, has stressed a need for setting up of an all party standing committee of the Members of the Legislative Assembly to ” initiate a formal dialogue with the Kashmiri Pandit community to draft a practical strategy at the ground level to ensure their safe and dignified return to the Valley .” He was taking part in the motion of thanks on the Lt Governor’s address to the Legislative Assembly. In the L G’s address, Karra found missing mention of plight of Kashmiri Pandits and the refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 wars.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah reiterated his Government’s commitment for resettlement and welfare of Kashmiri migrants (Hindus). In his budget address, he said that his Government has accelerated construction of 6000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri migrant Government employees.
The Pradesh Congress Chief made it clear that the rehabilitation of Pandits in the Valley will not be possible by mere symbolic or economic measures but by having a comprehensive , dignified and a durable plan. According to Karra there is need to ensure physical security and economical stability of the displaced persons ,with all social rights made available to them . There is a merit in the argument that economic component alone will not drive Pandits back to the Valley, but it would be being too generous to Karra to read statement of the Chief Minister, simply, in the back ground of his observations. Omar Abdullah referred to the other measures also initiated in this regard.
It may be pertinent to recall here what Chief Minister told the K P delegation which called on him, in the last summer, to press the community’s demand for having a law for the protection of Hindu Temples and Shrines in Kashmir. While agreeing in principle for having such a law he said that he would take MLAs of all parties into the confidence to see that such a law is put in place. When read together, two leaders of two different parties have spoken the same language. It is indeed a welcome development.
Reverting back to the subject, contemporary history tells us that often statements made in the legislative bodies mean nothing beyond declaration of a pious intent. Almost a decade back when J&K was a full fledged State , with both the Houses of State Legislature in place , a unanimous Resolution was passed by the Legislature conveying a sense that the law makers were earnest and sincere to see the return of displaced Pandits to the Valley and an effort would be made to ensure so.
Expectedly, the Resolution had evoked mixed feelings in the displaced community. Some described it as yet another “Pious declaration “meant only for recitation and not for the implementation. These declarations, they said, have been coming forth off and on, to keep the exiles in a good humour. They certainly has a point. But there were some, within the community, who saw a way forward in the Resolution. The subsequent events, however, proved former right because nothing has moved for the displaced community to see its return home.
Perhaps, it was the first ever resolution of the kind which indicated an intention and recognized certain hard realities of the Pandits’ displacement. It didn’t matter who moved the Resolution so long a political unanimity marked its passage. Rightly, it was observed that the Resolution had a meaning for the Government, displaced Hindus and the majority community in the Valley. For the Government, it spoke about its inability to see displaced persons back in their homes. For the two communities the message was that time had come when both must come together. It could well be taken as a step forward to promote reconciliation between the two integral components of the Kashmir society which, unfortunately at the moment, is riven apart. It is a fundamental premise that reconciliation is never built on conditions. A manifest declaration of the accommodative spirit is a sine -quo-non. Putting forth conditions ahead will mar every attempt no matter how well intentioned it is.
True, the tragedy that befell the Pandits has been a natural consequence of a well- thought out conspiracy. It is desirable to reveal it. However, prioritizing it and insisting on redressal first will mean foreclosing the return option. It does not pay to say “no “always. By out rightly rejecting the move we may, only, allow an escape route for the Government to wriggle out of the commitment.
Understandably, it not easy to sort out the problem of exile’s return. With the passage of time’ it has become so complex that it will take a Herculean effort to sort it out. So many people have thrown in the stakes, many contradictions have crept in.
It is common sense that the displaced Pandits will not return on mere ‘pious intentions’ of the Government or of an Honourable MLA. For that the quarters concerned will have to come good on their assurance, substantially, and provide for exiles’ livelihood, psychological and physical security, in Kashmir. Local Government as also the one at Centre must instill confidence in them before the displaced persons embark on a return journey.
As a token of its sincerity, let the Government bring in legislation for the protection of Temples and Shrines of Hindus in Kashmir. It is a long pending demand of the community.
The community leaders must display statesmanship. A dialogue is necessary. For that the displaced persons must sit together and sort out the ” representative issue “, within , and then ,if invited , join the House Panel or any other state body to see the return issue is amicably and satisfactorily resolved . Community interests, no doubt, should be held dear. A decade old Resolution and what Tariq Hameed Karra has said now in the Assembly provide a ground where upon a safe , durable and dignified return project can be erected. Sincerity of the purpose on part of both the actors is a necessary requirement. Hope lives long.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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