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| Women AIKS delegation meet European Union | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, May 16: A delegation of All India Kashmiri (AIKS) led by Usha Tickoo, convener women’s wing, met a delegation of European Union (EU) and held detailed interactive discussions regarding the issues confronting Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) with them.
Usha Tickoo conveyed how this hapless community was driven out of their homes and hearths by threatening and selective killings.
She also gave details how their property and their religious institutions and temples were destroyed and burnt down to ashes.
The period of exile has been also very painful as it kept us away from our civilizational roots and cultural life.
The physical space left behind because of our exodus is squeezing at a rapid pace threatening the socio-psychological existence of KPs in the valley, she said.
She informed them that AIKS is of the view that India’s Kashmir policy must be all inclusive and the Kashmir agenda must be rebuilt to accommodate the views and apprehensions of the minorities, especially KPs, who have been the worst victims of this terrorist violence.
AIKS delegation also said that Kashmir is a testing ground for Indian secularism and democracy.
Return, restitution and retention of KPs, as a concentrated group in Kashmir, is the litmus test of the will and sincerity of the Indian government and the state administration.
AIKS secretary, Aryan Ramesh said that return of KPs cannot be conditional merely to the goodwill of the majority community.
In no democratic and civilized society does a minority exist and subsist merely on the majority’s goodwill.
The real basis of its existence is a strong, stable democratic political and administrative foundation where rule of law prevails under all circumstances, he said.
AIKS also gave a memorandum to the European Union highlighting the demands of Kashmiri Pandits which include that KPs, being a religious minority in Kashmir, their return and survival as a distinct ethnic minority will not be possible, unless they are politically empowered.
Govt. of India should prepare a blueprint for comprehensive resettlement and rehabilitation of KPs in Kashmir, that takes into account the aspirations of KP community in terms of their political, economic, social and security concerns.
The bill for the management of Temples & Shrines which has been pending for a long time needs to be passed urgently in the Legislative Assembly. That would enable the community to exercise control over them and manage their assets, as they constitute the only living civilization symbols of the displaced KPs.
The left over small number of KPs in the Valley and other minorities, who have braved the intense phase of militancy and are still struggling to survive, should be provided with employment opportunities and other incentives to stay back in the Valley.
The European Union delegation heard keenly the points raised by the AIKS delegation and assured them that their concerns and problems will be highlighted before the international community
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