Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: The Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), expressed its firm and unequivocal rejection of the so-called “Kashmiri Pandit and Migrant Reintegration Bill” to be introduced by PDP Legislator Badgam in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
At the very outset, KPC president Kundan Kashmiri strongly objected to the use of the term “reintegration,” which reflects a deeply flawed and insensitive understanding of the historical reality of the community. “KPs were not a community that distanced itself from society; they were forcibly hounded out of their homeland through terror, targeted killings, threats, and systematic intimidation. What occurred was not migration, but a tragic and painful chapter marked by conditions akin to genocide and ethnic cleansing,” he added.
The use of such terminology attempts to dilute this harsh truth and undermines the immense suffering endured by the community. Any meaningful initiative must begin with the formal and unequivocal recognition of genocide and ethnic cleansing of KPs, followed by concrete and visible action, he said.
He said for over three decades, the community has lived in exile, struggling to preserve its identity, culture, and dignity. Families lost their homes, properties, land, orchards, and livelihood. Generations have grown up away from their roots, carrying the burden of displacement, uncertainty, and emotional trauma. The pain of exile is not just physical-it is civilizational, Kashmir said.
In this context, the Bill falls short of addressing the core issues. It does not provide for a legally empowered Commission of Enquiry to investigate the atrocities committed against the community, including killings, forced displacement, loot, arson, and distress sales under coercion. Without truth and accountability, there can be no justice, he said.
There is no clear and enforceable mechanism for the restoration of properties, land, and assets that were unlawfully taken or lost under duress, he said .
The KPC firmly reiterated that rehabilitation must be based on the will and aspirations of the community itself. A safe, secure, and consolidated settlement in the Valley with full Constitutional and institutional guarantees is only a solution, he added.
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