What do Kashmiri Pandits expect from the Jammu and Kashmir elections? Homecoming and security are important issues
In the assembly elections to be held in Jammu and Kashmir after ten years, the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits has once again emerged as a major election issue. All the political parties are trying to assure the Kashmiri Pandit voters that they will make a concrete plan for their return home and will ensure their safety.
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has the right to nominate three members to the Legislative Assembly, out of which two will be Kashmiri migrants and one displaced person from PoK. One of the Kashmiri migrants to be nominated will be a woman. Under this arrangement, an attempt has been made to give representation to Kashmiri Pandits in the Legislative Assembly.
Issues like security, displacement, and employment of Kashmiri Pandits have always been the biggest issues in Jammu and Kashmir before and after the removal of Article 370. Now that the process of assembly elections has started in the Union Territory, TV9 has prepared a special report on what the people of the Kashmiri Pandit community think about the elections.
Role of Kashmiri Pandits in Elections
Two designated seats have been reserved for Kashmiri Pandits in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. At the same time, the BJP has fielded two Kashmiri Pandit candidates in the Kashmir Valley. However, BJP's manifesto has not been released yet. Let us tell you that the alliance of National Conference and Congress and PDP have not yet fielded any Kashmiri Pandit candidate, but both parties have made a special mention of the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits in their manifesto.
Is security an election issue for Kashmiri Pandits?
The security of Kashmiri Pandits, who have been the target of terrorists for a long time, is also an important election issue this time. Kashmiri Pandits say that for their permanent rehabilitation, all Kashmiri Pandits working in Kashmir must be provided security wherever they live so that they can live without fear.
What do Kashmiri Pandits expect from the elections?
The Kashmiri Pandit community has been struggling for its return home for the last three decades. However, in many elections earlier also, political parties had made big promises, but they were not fulfilled. Despite this, the people of the Kashmiri Pandit community are preparing to participate in this time's elections in large numbers so that their voices can reach the center and their issues can be resolved.