Parvaiz Wani CNI
Kashmiri Pandits Welcome LG’s Statement but Demands for Justice,Secure, Unified & One Place Rehabilitation with Constitutional Guarantees & Land Restoration, Genocide Recognition,Punishment to the Perpetrators.
The Kashmiri Pandit community, in general, and the Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), in particular, welcome your recent statement given in KP function at Jammu yesterday regarding the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. However, we wish to make it unequivocally clear that Kashmiri Pandits are willing to return only on their own terms and conditions, at a time and place of their choosing. We have never opposed our return, but we assert that it must be carried out in a manner that ensures our safety, dignity, and justice.
Sir, our community has suffered an unspeakable tragedy—genocide, ethnic cleansing, targeted massacres, destruction of our properties, forced land seizures, and distress sales under coercion. Our return cannot be a mere administrative formality; it must be a national priority carried out with sincerity, full institutional and constitutional guarantees, and with the full writ of the Indian Constitution. We demand that we be recognized as the indigenous people of the Kashmir Valley, with all associated rights, protections, and benefits.
Sir, we categorically state that Kashmiri Pandits will return only as a consolidated community at one place, where the government must provide security, legal protection, economic assistance, and the means to sustain our culture and traditions. Piecemeal returns or the return of scattered individuals do not constitute just a rehabilitation. If any individual family or group chooses to return to their former homes in towns, cities, or villages, it is their personal decision and cannot be considered as the collective return of our community.
Sir, we demand a structured dialogue between the Government of India, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, and the Kashmiri Pandit leadership to discuss and formulate a concrete, time-bound roadmap for our dignified return. It is the duty of the government to engage directly with the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and it’s leadership who have been forced into exile for the last 35 years.
Sir, before any step towards return is taken, justice must be delivered. We strongly demand that a Genocide Bill be passed in Parliament, along with a Kashmiri Pandit Rehabilitation Bill, to officially recognize the crimes committed against our community. The world must acknowledge that Kashmiri Pandits were subjected to an orchestrated campaign of violence, looting, arson, and mass killings. The perpetrators, including those who facilitated and abetted these crimes, must be brought to justice before any rehabilitation process can begin.
Furthermore, we demand the following concrete measures:
“Restoration of Properties.”
All properties, including land, orchards, and homes that were illegally seized, encroached upon, or lost under coercion, must be returned to their rightful owners. The draconian Land to Tiller Act and similar unjust laws that facilitated these losses must be repealed.
“Compensation for Losses”
A comprehensive compensation package must be provided to each victimized KP family for the massive economic losses suffered over the last three decades.
“Financial Grants for Rehabilitation”
The government must provide a financial package to help displaced Kashmiri Pandits rebuild their lives and regain their lost livelihoods.
” Institutional Safeguards”
Special constitutional protections must be put in place to prevent any future recurrence of persecution, marginalization, or demographic assault on the Kashmiri Pandit community.
“Extension of Government Schemes”
All welfare schemes, job benefits, and economic packages must be extended to displaced Kashmiri Pandits at par with other vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Sir, we acknowledge and appreciate the government’s declaration that all benefits shall be extended to PM package employees at par with other employees of Jammu & Kashmir. This has been a long-pending demand, and we urge the immediate and full implementation of this commitment without bureaucratic delays.
Sir, the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits is not just about relocating displaced families—it is about correcting a historical injustice. It is about restoring faith in India’s constitutional values. It is about ensuring that the indigenous sons and daughters of Kashmir, who have kept its spiritual and civilizational heritage alive for thousands of years, are given the rightful place they deserve.
Sir, Honorable Lieutenant Governor, we urge your good self to ensure that this issue is addressed with the seriousness and urgency it demands. The Kashmiri Pandit community, particularly the Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), will continue to stand firm on its principles and fight for a just, dignified, and permanent resolution to our forced exile.
“With utmost respect and high expectations”
[ Kundan Kashmiri]
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC)
Sevak & President President
Email: kundankashmiri@gmail.com
Mobile: 8802167955
.