KPSS' Fast-Unto-Death & Curious Case of Silence

 

               One can safely infer that uprooted Kashmiri Pandit (KP) diaspora has already made a truce with its gunpoint exodus from the Valley and whatever appears to cause an upset to its exiled life meets with an instant obstruction. Faint cries for 'Homeland' or resettlement in the Valley don't carry any conviction with the ruling political class in Delhi. Such a scenario is a fertile ground for the luxuriant growth of vested interests, and that is what we witness today. 
Personal ambitions of the 'self-styled' leaders of the Community have pushed the travails of tenement dwellers into oblivion. They ignored the left-over lot in the Valley as if they did not exist. No one, except US-based Dr Vijay Sazawal, ever spoke up for them. While migrants lapped up all the  Government doles, concessions and relief, none cared for the non-migrants- as if they sinned by refusing to be cleansed by the Islamist onslaught. Rather than standing by them, the Community ridiculed them, abused them and wrote long articles on how they had compromised their religious identity and national interests. Fear builds phantoms which are more fearsome than reality.     
It was only recently when Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS)- an organisation of the Valley-based KPs- undertook a fast-unto-death inside the iconic Ganpatyar temple, Srinagar,  did some KP organisation take note of them. Yet, the most vocal among them preferred to remain silent.

Why Fast-unto-Death?
            In the early 1990s, almost entire KP community fled to the safety of plains, leaving behind a minuscule number. With political executive in the state (now a UT) abdicating its responsibility and New Delhi lost in the wilderness, the exodus of KPs continued unabated. As per a survey conducted by KPSS in 2019, left-over KPs have shrunk to just 808 households/3445 souls scattered over 242 places.  Besides economic strangulation by successive governments, vote bank politics by all including the BJP and venom spewed by their own in the media have rendered their stay in the Valley almost untenable. How insensitive could the environment be for these unfortunate people? 
Eight hundred and eight non-migrant families are fighting an existential battle today. For the last two decades, KPSS has been imploring the Central and J&K UT (erstwhile State of J&K) Governments to ameliorate their lot. Two successive  Parliamentary Standing Committees, in 2009 and 2014, underlined the urgency to address problems faced by the left-over KPs in the Valley. These Committees also recommended setting aside special budgetary provisions to 'fulfil their genuine needs of housing/employment/self-employment and improving living conditions'. In 2017, PDP-BJP Government promulgated  SRO-425 reserving 500 posts for non-migrant KPs. This cheer soon evaporated as SRO  implementation got mired in litigation.  After, the Hon'ble High Court ruled in favour of KPs; the Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department (DMRRR) stepped in to sabotage the recruitment process.  Though KPSS accuses DMRRR of deliberate delay, former's stance appears to be one of being politically correct. Babus dare not disregard the will of the state unless they have the backing of the willy politicians.  
Frustrated, KPSS ran out of patience dealing with the callous JK-UT administration. So exasperated was the organisation as to compel its President, Sanjay Tickoo, and youth activist, Sandeep, to go on a fast-unto-to death for ten days before the UT administration relented to furnish a written commitment to redress their grievances. Will the administration keep its word?

 What does KPSS Demand?
All the demands of KPSS are fully justified. These relate to the basic human needs, summarised hereunder, that the Government is duty-bound to provide to all its citizens. 
Jobs.  KPSS toiled hard to highlight economic deprivation of non-migrant KPs-Kashmiri Hindus to the Central and State (now UT) Governments. This long-drawn effort fructified in the shape of the promulgation of SRO 425 by the J&K Government setting aside 500 posts for non-migrant KPs. Unfortunately, its implementation was not to be. First, Kashmiri Sikh community, as if on cue, moved Hon'ble High Court against the SRO. However, the Hon'ble Court dismissed their petition; their appeal too met the same fate. As decks seemed cleared, DMRR&R stepped in to stall the recruitment for four long years. Now, KPSS demands:
a. The Government must speedily fill-up 500 posts set-aside for non-migrant KPs.
b. Relaxation of upper age limit for overage non-migrant KPs who were otherwise eligible for employment as on 31/10/2016,  i.e. the date on which Hon'ble High Court passed the order.
c. Issue of suitable instructions by the Government of JK UT that ensures non-migrant Kashmiri Hindus become eligible for employment under SRO 425.
Secure Housing for Relocated KPs-Kashmiri Hindus. A large number of non-migrant KPs-Kashmiri Hindus facing social ostracisation, religious isolation and security threats at their native places have relocated elsewhere in rented accommodation- a luxury they can ill afford. While JK administration allots hotel accommodation and security to thousands of Political Migrants in hotels, it is deaf to the appeals of the deserving non-migrant KPs/Kashmiri Hindus for similar facilities. KPSS demands allotment of secure accommodation to all such families at their respective District headquarters.
Financial Assistance to Deserving Non-Migrant KP – Kashmiri Hindu Families. Non-migrant KPs-Kashmiri Hindus are not beneficiaries of any Government welfare schemes/financial assistance. COVID pandemic has accentuated their misery. Laid off private employees are living in abject poverty. KPSS demands extension of financial relief to the non-migrant KPs- Kashmiri Hindus on the pattern of monthly cash assistance extended to Kashmiri migrants. 
Protection, Preservation and Restoration of Temple Assets in the Valley. Encroachment and sale of temple assets in the Valley have gone on unabated for the last three decades. Politicians-bureaucracy-land mafia nexus, in connivance with the black sheep in the Community, made fortunes through illegal sale and encroachment of temple properties in the Valley.  KPSS filed several court cases against the unlawful sales of temple properties. Hon'ble High Court has passed numerous judgements/directions to the local administration to scrutinise all temple sales, identify temple lands and to forestall fresh sales. Following up the Court directions, KPSS submitted a detailed list of all the temples located in Srinagar to the Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,  but nothing has moved. KPSS demands of the Government to identify the temple properties in the Valley,  scrutinise their present status and to protect, preserve and restore these to their pristine glory.    

    Notwithstanding support from various political parties, less the ruling one, KPSS has steered clear of any political affiliations. Maybe that is the reason for their continued neglect. Though under Central rule, whose writ runs in the administration is no secret. Therein probably lies the devil.
             

        KP community is leaderless  and rudderless. In such a vacuum, court jesters thrive. Belittling a questioning community member by publicly calling him a 'nali ka keeda' or labelling a solemn protest a 'drama' or speaking the language that the establishment wishes to listen are traits of sycophants that court jesters are. Those who have appropriated the leadership mantle of KPs have often let the Community down. Neglected and abandoned, non-migrant KPs have shown the grit to take their fight for their legitimate rights to the next level. Only All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) and some non-descript organisation have come out in support of the protesting community members. All other organisations and 'self-styled' leaders appear seized by the silence of the grave.