STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Navreh function was organized with traditional gaiety and fanfare by the Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) Jammu on Saturday.
The day marked the beginning of the Hindu calendar year 2079 Bikrami Samvat and Saptrishi Samvat 5098.
Two minutes silence was observed in the memory of those members of the Biradari who have expired during the past three years due to various reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic and other terrorist related incidents.
Advisor to the Lt Governor, R.R. Bhatnagar was the Chief Guest on the occasion and Ashok Koul, General Secretary organization of BJP for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh was the Guest of Honour.
The function started with the traditional lighting of the lamp by the chief guest and others, followed by the musical program.
Scintillating performance by singer Deepali Watal enthralled the audience with her renditions of Bhajans and other songs.
General Secretary of the Sabha, S.L Bagati read out the report of the activities of the Sabha during the past three years.
President of the Sabha, K.K Khosa, while welcoming the guests and life members of the Sabha, elaborated upon the role of the 108 year old organization of the Kashmiri Pandits during the past many decades especially after the forced exodus of the entire Kashmiri Pandit community from Kashmir in the year 1990 due to the targeted killings and other atrocities perpetrated by the gun totting terrorists on them.
Khosa recollected how the Sabha put in all possible efforts to provide help and support to the people who had left the valley and come down to Jammu leaving all their belongings in the valley.
While thanking the Narendra Modi led GoI and the UT government led by Manoj Sinha for looking after the community while in exile, the president requested that steps should be taken immediately to ensure return and rehabilitation of the community back in the Valley with dignity, honour and full sense of security by framing a robust return and rehabilitation policy in consultation with the community’s leadership. He further elaborated that the minuscule community’ is facing an existential threat to it’s culture and identity which can only be addressed by it’s resettlement in the land of its forefathers.
The Sabha proposal to create concentrated settlements in the erstwhile three districts of Kashmir finalized after wide consultation with the community leadership in the year 2013 was reiterated by the president.
The president requested the Chief Guest to make a strong recommendation to the government of India for reservation of three assembly and one parliament seat for the Kashmiri Pandit community to enable them to send their representatives to these institutions empowering the community politically.
The president highlighted the issues being faced by the PM package employees in the valley related to their accommodation, the unjust and unconstitutional conditions attached to their jobs affecting their promotional prospects and other security related issues as the administration is reluctant to post both husband and wife at one place. This is not only illogical but is a violation of their human rights as well.
The president requested the Advisor to address these issues on humanitarian grounds.
He made a fervent appeal for announcement of at least 6000 more class two and three posts for the youth of the community which need to be filled up on priority.
He also requested the Advisor to facilitate the passage of the long awaited temple’s and shrines bill to secure our places of worship in the valley.
The president forcefully pleaded for enhancement of the monthly relief amount being paid to the displaced community from the present Rs 13000 per family being paid today to at least Rs 25000 per month in view of the rising cost of living.
He also requested that till the time return process is complete the present accommodation provided at Jammu should be properly maintained while some more accommodation should be constructed to accommodate those people who have been living in rented houses for the past 32 years.
On the occasion the sabha felicitated Ms Sandhya Dhar for being conferred with the Nari Shakti Puruskar by the GOI for her contribution towards uplifting the specially abled section of the society.
In his address, Sh. Ashok Koul asked the community to take a resolve to go back to valley to celebrate next Navreh there. He said that we have to repeat continuously this resolve every year till we actually celebrate this function at Hari Parbhat in the valley. He also exhorted the KP Community to vote in their respective constituency in the valley and ensure winning of BJP Candidate. He stressed that all community people should make their votes in the valley by deleting in the Jammu voter list.
Hon’ble Advisor Sh. R.R. Bhatnagar said that UT Government and GOI are quite aware of the community problems and will in near future fulfill all your respirations. He said that the problem of separate posting of migrant couples serving in the valley will be looked into and efforts made to unite them at one station.
The chief guest and the guest of honor while extending their good wishes on the occasion stated that both the UT Government and the GOI are fully aware about the difficulties being faced by the displaced community and assured early redressal of all these at the earliest.
Among the audience prominent were Vice-Chancellor University of Jammu Manoj Dhar, Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, Prof. R. L. Shant, Kashmiri Lal Bhat, Shiban Khaibri, CA Upinder K. Handoo, Ravinder Koul, S.L Koul, A. K. Raina, Kamal Koul, Ganesh Koul, Sushil Aima. G. J. Kampasi Secretary of the Sabha delivered the vote of thanks.
The program was conducted by Dr Sujata Sathoo senior member of the executive committee of the Sabha.