Elections and Kashmiri Pandits

O N Kaul

(In this article, the author analyses the dilemma faced by the community in the matter of participating in the proposed elections. We would welcome readers' views on this important question-Ed.)

Elections to J&K legislative Assembly are being planned When these are held it is not pertinent here What is pertinent is the role of Kashmiri Pandits in these elections:

Being a migrant, the first thing that comes to my mind is a review of the situation in the Valley. There may have been some improvement in the law-and-order situation. But that alone is not the determining factor. When we recall the conditions under which we were forced out, there seems to be hardly any improvement vis-a-vis Kashmiri Pandits. The masses remain as much alienated from the national mainstream as they were ever before. This is to the detriment of the Pandit who has been always suspect as an "Indian agent" The attitude of the majority cannot be expected to be any better because it has a stake in keeping the Pandit away from the scene The stake is political, economic, and, above all, ethnic Ethnocide of Kashmiri Pandits is a victory of sorts for them.

The second point that needs to be considered is whom to vote for. The candidates will be from political parties or independents (most of them backed by political parties) The attitude of political parties Congress, National Conference, Janata Dal, and now Hurriyat-towards Kashmiri Pandits is too well-known to make any mention Did any of these people care to see where and how we are? Did they care to see how we suffered and what we lost? Did any of these shed a tear for us? A French phrase when roughly translated would read: "One derives a secret pleasure in a friend's misfortune". In the instant case the majority derives secret as well as apparent pleasure in the misfortunes of the minority. So what shall we achieve by taking part in the next round of elections?

As per the Programme of Action of the Central Government, a meaningful dialogue is to be carried out with the elected government in J&K to deter mine the nature of relations the State is to have with the Union of India. Should we not wait to see the outcome of that dialogue. The present Indian government has its own political compulsions in view of the ensuing elections and is only aiming at vote catching devices. The next Indian government will be in a better position to sort out things with the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiri Pandits have to wait and see the outcome of the deliberations. The new Government in the State has to make its stand clear on the unity and integrity of India. A Kashmiri Pandit has to see if he can live in Kashmir honourably after the new dispensation. He has to see whether his rights as an individual are safeguarded and that he is not discriminated against because of his being a Pandit. Let us not be hostages to Indian secularism as we used to be. It automatically means that we do not take part in the next round of Assembly elections. Let us skip these elections. Otherwise too, our participation in elections has had little effect on their results.

Till then we can concentrate on the following important jobs:

1. Affiliation of Migrant Colleges to Jammu University.

2. Simplification of the processes of promotion and superannuation of Migrant employees.

3. Self-employment facilities for the unemployed tito and those in the unorganised sector.

4. Amelioration of the lot of those living in tents and govt. provided hutments.

5. Simplification of the process of disbursement of relief.

6. An economic package for businessmen.

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Courtesy:- O N Kaul and September 1996 Koshur Samachar