The statement made by BJP General Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Ashok Koul, suggesting that Kashmiri Pandits will return to the valley only when Kashmiri Muslims accept them, is deeply disappointing and reflects a serious lack of commitment toward the rightful rehabilitation of the exiled KP community. It is painful to see that even after 35 years of exile, the return of Kashmiri Pandits is still being framed as a matter of social acceptance rather than a national and constitutional obligation. The forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was not a result of mere social differences but of targeted killings, persecution, and terrorism. Linking our return to the acceptance of those who once remained silent during our darkest hour is not just misleading but deeply unfair. This unjustified statement by Sh. Ashok Koul Ji, General Secretary BJP, suggests that the displaced KP community should return at the mercy of the Muslim majority of Kashmir and live under their dictates and directions.
The return of Kashmiri Pandits should never be seen as a subject of approval or conditional acceptance. We are the original inhabitants of Kashmir, with thousands of years of history rooted in its soil. It is the duty of the Indian government to ensure our safe and dignified return with full political, legal, and security guarantees. Justice remains unserved for the horrors inflicted upon our people. Have those responsible for the bloodshed and terror been brought to justice? Have the masterminds of our ethnic cleansing been held accountable? Has any genuine effort been made to reverse the demographic and economic devastation that Kashmiri Pandits have suffered? If not, then how can any discussion of acceptance hold meaning?
No other community in independent India has been told that their return to their homeland depends on the goodwill of the majority population. It is heartbreaking to see such a discriminatory approach toward a community that has given so much to the land and nation. This hurtful statement clarifies that the BJP at the Centre has completely failed Kashmiri Pandits.
The BJP and the central government must take immediate responsibility and clarify their stand on this crucial issue. The displaced community needs concrete action, not vague and irresponsible statements that only add to our pain and uncertainty. If the BJP truly considers Kashmiri Pandits an integral part of the nation, then it must demonstrate it through decisive policies, not by making statements that sound like an excuse for inaction.
Our return is not a matter of favor but a matter of right. We must return with dignity, security, and a well-defined roadmap, not as subjects awaiting approval. The wounds of exile are deep, and only a serious commitment backed by action can heal them. Kashmir belongs to us as much as it belongs to anyone else. It is time for the leadership to acknowledge this reality with sincerity and responsibility.
[Kundan Kashmiri]
Kashmir Watcher, President Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC)
Mobile No: 8802167955
Email: kundankashmiri@gmail.com
As a pandit this statement doesn’t affect me at love. Because while I was in Kashmir, their Females had all their love with me, out of their love they would offer me anything. It was a tremendous love and during these 35 years if I missed anything about Kashmir, that was their Female Fork. So it doesn’t not matter what Kashmiri Muslims want, it matters what their Females Want. If their Females love us and want us with them again like before, we will happily go and enjoy them.
We have great respect and regard for Mr. Ashok Koul but it doesn’t mean that he should give such nasty statement to hurt the sentiments of his community members. Our return is not a matter of favor or appeasement but a matter of right to live. We must return with dignity and honour and not on the mercy of someone else. The Government should take serious note of it. Mr. Ashok is requested to desist from giving such misleading statements.