Economic Revival:
Political Revival:
(* near-term focus) |
Apex Committee approves amendments in PM's return package for KPs. As reported in Daily Excelsior by AvtarBhat. JAMMU, Sept 3: The Apex Committee on Kashmiri migrants which met here today was unanimous in giving its nod to the amendments in PM's package by enhancing incentive for construction of houses for Kashmiri migrants from Rs 7.50 lakh to Rs 20 lakh on their return to Valley. However, they also stressed that the return will be premature as more ground work was required to be done which included initiation of inter community dialogue and consultation of cross section of community. The State Government has already submitted a proposal to Union Government regarding enhancement of incentives for construction of houses. According to highly placed sources, the need for enhancement of the incentives has been found in view of the escalation of construction cost and minimum need of 1500 sq feet of land for construction of a house by each family on their return to Valley. Among other proposals, which were also approved in the Apex Committee meeting today, included enhancement of amount for renovation of dilapidated houses from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, and provide the benefit of PM's package to all those families who have sold their land after the enactment of Distress Sales and Properties Act in 2007 by the State Government. The sources said majority of migrants had sold their land either through power of attorney or through sale deeds after this period. The sources said the migrants were not entitled to the benefits of PM's package as over 60 percent of them had sold their land after this period and to bring them under the purview of PM's package and to encourage return of the community, this amendment was must. The Committee also approved the Government's proposal for providing funds for remaining 3000 posts under PM's package. Out of 6000 posts sanctioned under PM's package funds for 3000 posts were to be provided by State Government while the rest was to be provided by Central Government. But no recruitment has been made on the 3000 posts for which resources were to be created by State Government due to paucity of funds, sources added. The Committee also put forth the demand for one time settlement for over-aged youth who are the worst sufferers of the turmoil. Besides the Apex Committee also gave its nod to the proposal for providing assistance for revival of agriculture and horticulture land. The Government has recommended Rs 15,000 per kanal for restoration of orchard upto a ceiling of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10,000 per kanal agriculture land upto a ceiling of Rs 3 lakh. The Apex Committee also approved the Government proposal to work out a scheme enabling the displaced businessmen to restart the business activity to facilitate the defaulters to repay the principal amount of the loan. It was also proposed by the Government to provide interest free term loan and working capital with an interest subsidy of 5% to the entrepreneurs. However, the viability of these schemes will be worked out on case-to-case basis. The meeting was informed by Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla, who is also chairman of the Apex Committee, that 300 transit accommodations have been constructed by SICOP for the migrants in Valley and the remaining will be completed by December this year. MrBhalla assured the members that Government will leave no stone unturned to provide infrastructual facilities especially proper accommodation and security to the displaced people in Valley to facilitate return of entire community to their homeland. He expressed the hope that migrants will soon return to their homeland as all efforts are being made by State and Central Governments for restoring peace in the Valley. He said the Union Government has announced Rs 1618.41 crorepackage for proper rehabilitation of the displaced families in the State. Mr. Bhalla said Government has established a township of 4218 flats at a cost of Rs 385 crore at Jagati near Nagrota with all facilities. Out of them, 3504 flats have been completed and remaining would be completed by next month. After the Prime Minister inaugurated these flats on March 4 this year 3200 families have been shifted to the colony, he added. He said though relief was enhanced from Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 per month during the year 2009 the Government has further taken up the issue with Centre recommending enhancement of relief to Rs 8000 per family. MOS Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation NasirAslamWani informed the meeting that Omar Abdullah led Government is making all out efforts to implement the PM's package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants to Valley and providing of all infrastructure facilities to them on their return to Valley was its prime concern. While turning down the suggestion of settlement of Pandits at a single or multi townships in Valley, he wished the day to come when Pandits will return to their homes and hearths and lead a respectable life as before. Earlier, the Apex Committee through a resolution felicitated MrBhalla and MrWani for taking keen interest in addressing the problems of the migrants and also appreciated the role of the officers for construction of township at Jagati for migrants with all basic facilities, implementation of employment package which, they said, was really a challenging task for the Government. It said over 2100 employees were appointed and out of them, 1428 have joined their services in Valley while construction of transit accommodations at various places in Kashmir was in progress. Through the resolution, the members conveyed their gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for taking keen interest in resolving the issue of Kashmiri migrants. |
A Community Member’s Response to the Apex Committee A flock of dumb sheep that the community has been made out to be. Those who 'nodded’ in unanimous ‘approval’ of the return 'package' might also like to explain to the community how have they secured our human rights as free Indians of secular India when we are back amongst those responsible for our premeditated ethnic cleansing, who deserve to be tried for crimes against humanity & are roaming free as ‘politicians’. Or is it assumed that perpetrators are now going to be our patrons? Also, now that it is almost in public domain that Indian state has agreed to pander to the Kashmiri Islamists & pre-1953 status is being restored as the first installment of the ‘out of the box’ Kashmir-solution, is it to be assumed that the honorable members of the Apex committee are also unanimously in support of the disastrous move that reverses India’s sovereignty over Kashmir by nearly sixty years. If yes then should we be seeing now the honorable members of the Apex committee closing their present ‘shops’ out side the valley & shifting their bases along with their own families & friends to downtown Srinagar & other places back in the valley? After all it is not the responsibility of only the hapless ‘unemployed & deprived’ Kashmir Pandits to go back to the valley & resurrect ‘Kashmiriyat’ for those who continue to chant ‘kashmiriyat’ in the backdrop of radically Islamised Kashmir & have the audacity to use the very victims of the Kashmir jihad in secularising the ill-conceived policy aimed at satiating the Kashmiri Islamsits. In view of the fact that Kashmir’s exclusiveness via ‘much diluted’ article 370 could allow brutal ethnic cleansing of the community-the only ethnic cleansing in independent India, what are the constitutional guarantees that the Govt. has conceded to the honorable members of the Apex committee regarding the ‘honour’ & ‘dignity’ of the Kashmiri Pandits now under the proposed pre-1953 autonomy that will ensure establishment of a quasi Islamic-state within the ‘contours’ of India? In their own wisdom are the honorable members of the Apex committee aware that their ‘unanimous’ approval of the return package in view of the now known impending political deal on Kashmir will be seen as treachery in Jammu & rest of the country for any silence by the principal stakeholders that we rightfully claim we are to the Kashmir issue, over the move that seeks to dilute India’s sovereignty over Kashmir will appear nothing more than a barter. Ever since our exodus have we not been claiming with élan that we were targeted because we were seen symbolising Indian presence in Kashmir & that we professed a different faith & that brutalities forced us to abandon our homes & hearths leaving behind our all possessions. Are we to believe that honorable members of the Apex committee are convinced that the circumstances, the forces that enforced our brutal exodus stand neutralised? Are we to tell the world that Pakistan’s anti India Kashmir-jihad is abandoned (only political morons will believe that) Or is it that the Kashmiri jihadists position of 1989-90 that “asiygatcse Pakistan, batav rocs ta batanevsaan stands amended? Are the men folk welcome too now & have we chosen to ‘join’?The honorable members of the Apex committee need to clarify that assuming we indeed surrender to insanity & return under the present circumstances under the able guidance of the honorable members of the Apex committee, when we are back along with our families & we have restored/rebuilt our dwellings how are we as a community to react to the roars ‘Go India Go’; ‘ragda-ragda’; ‘ayiayilashkarayi’; ‘gaitumharimatahai, hum uskokhatahai’ etc. etc…..? And last but not the least, if we are finally returning back as per the 'negotiated' return package by the honorable members of the Apex committee then what is 'Jagti' settlement for? Once Jammu rises against 'greater autonomy' do the honourable members of the Apex committee realise that we could become potential targets in our present temporary settlement in exile because of our what will be construed as tacit approval of the Govt. award to valley based Kashmiri Muslim polity. Political bankruptcy can not be more explicit. Phew! Ps: To all those of us who do realise that Kashmir is slipping away for us, it is time to give up inhibitions, surrender egos & join in one voice the collective call for our own separate homeland in Kashmir valley where we along with all those who believe in the idea of India can live as free Indians.It is also time to join hands with the nationalist forces in Jammu & seek solidarity in rest of India. “Maeji, aeus banav beayi panin Kashir; Panun Kashmir-Panun Kashmir!!” |
Panun Kashmir, Press Release Ref: - PK/Media/177Dt: - 05-08-2010 Expressing serious concern over the implications of the prevailing situation in Kashmir valley, attacks on security forces, police stations, targeting houses of the minority community, sacrilege of the Sikh sentiments, attack on Non-Kashmiri drivers and AmarnathYatris, Panun Kashmir Convener urged GOI that the situation in the Valley demands strong intervention as is expected of an assertive nation-state. In its national executive meeting of PK he observed that the continued policy of appeasement of GOI has always emboldened separatists and secessionists and their apologists in the Kashmir valley. Giving undue credence to such forces and ignoring the vast majority public opinion of the state which rejects secessionism and treats accession of the state with India as final and complete, has resulted in the present turmoil. Dr. Agnishekhar opined that GOI should not downplay the geo-political urges and aspiration of the displaced Kashmiri Hindus, people of Jammu and Ladakh anymore. It is high time world community should know that unlike the separatists and jihadi forces of Kashmir, the Seven Lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits demand creation of Union territory inside Kashmir Valley with free flow of Indian constitution. It’s also imperative that the demand of people of Jammu for separate statehood and Union Terroritory for the people of Ladakh be acknowledged and taken in to serious considerations when any such solution of Kashmir Issue is going to be worked out. Thus the reorganization of the J&K state will pave way for tiding over the problem permanently. The present adhoc approach of GOI in addressing the Kashmir Issue is fraught with dangers of further emboldening the separatists who rule the roost by defying the law and order, raising anti-India and Jehadi slogans as loud as they can. Its high time GOI should henceforth stop buckling under pressure and black mail tactics of forces like Hurriyat and other separatist organizations. GOI should reject the Hurriyat’s preconditions for resumption of dialogue like declaring J&K as a disputed state and withdrawal of AFSPA and demilitarization. Dr. Agnishekhar observed that signals emanating from corridors of power in New Delhi amply suggest that once peace and order are restored it would come out with some Political Dispensation. PK forewarned the GOI and state government that any such “out of box” political dispensation including economic and rehabilitation packages for stone-pelters, ex-militants, and surrender-militants will boost the separatists and will prove disastrous to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Dr. Agnishekhar appealed to the opinion makers and the Political Leadership of Jammu and Ladakh to forge unity of Political Perception and raise their voice with vehemence at this crucial stage of the history. Issued to Press by (Member Supreme Council- Panun Kashmir) |
Panun Kashmir Press Release Ref:- PK/Media/557 Dt:- 13-12-2010 Panun Kashmir cautions the entire displaced Kashmiri Pandit community against the disastrous long-term implications of the ongoing implementation of the PM’s employment package being projected as part of the return and rehabilitation module for the community. Dr. Agnishekhar convener Panun Kashmir while condemning the state government’s design of linking the entirely two different issues of employment and the return, expressed deep shock and anguish over the seemingly hand-in-glove attitude of so called senior leaders of the KP organizations and government appointed KP representatives of the Apex committee. Panun Kashmir questions the discretion of the said community leaders, fraught with the serious consequences for accepting the employment package without a single word of dissent against the draconian and discriminatory conditions tagged with it by the National conference led coalition government and projecting it as a return module. Panun Kashmir had timely warned these Apex committee members and organizations to desist from being part of this sinister design of the state government to trivialize the issue of Genocide and Exodus of the KP community. PK forewarns the community about a possible design of winding-up of the chapter of migration of the community with allotment of the transit accommodation to refugee camp dwellers at Jagati followed by mass transfers of the employees to the valley and it is unfortunate a hand full of vested interest in the community is apparently out to help the agencies in this matter. Panun Kashmir will not allow these forces to make KPs a scapegoat in this process. PK appeals the KP community to remain vigilant against the machinations of the forces inimical to their geo-political aspirations and demand for creation of a separate homeland in form of a union territory in the Valley. Panun Kashmir rejects the present return and rehabilitation module of the state government which does not address the core issue of Exodus and Genocide of the Kashmiri Hindu community. PK is of the opinion that this package doesn’t guarantee the security concerns of the community including a basic assurance of non-refoulment of another forced migration on KPs from Kashmir. The community should understand that this whole process is aimed at paving way for greater autonomy or self-rule or demilitarization and excluding the KPs from the political milieu of the state. PK resolved to frustrate the designs of the vested interests to mislead the displaced community into believing the end of their political struggle for having a separate homeland in the Kashmir Valley. Panun Kashmir will intensify its ongoing struggle nationwide. (Secretary)-Media & Internet Vijay Kumar |
Panun Kashmir (Statement issued at Press Conference at Jammu on 2-9-2011) Panun Kashmir convener Dr. Agnishekhar questioned not only the veracity of the government’s stand on the sensitive issue of the proposed return of exiled community to Kashmir but the locus standi of the Apex Committee. The so called APEX Committee has no representative character, nor any mandate to speak on behalf of the Kashmiri Pandits and is fully sponsored by the government to play the role of sell out of the KP’s interests, as is fairly evident from their unqualified acquiesce in extending total co-operation to the state government to tag very harsh and draconian conditions with the PM’s Employment Package for the unemployed youth of the community. No stage managed and cooked up agreement entered into this sponsored committee and the government would be acceptable to the community which would treat the same as a ruse and a sham. The KP community will decimate and frustrate the sinister designs of these vested interests. The state and the central governments are brushing under the carpet the core issue of exodus and genocide and treating it as a law and order problem. The exodus and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits has mainly been due to abject failure of state and central governments and only pampering to the wishes of muslim separatism in J&K state. The trend continues till date wherein the Chief Minister of the state is advocating clemency for the attacker of the Indian Parliament Afzal Guru. Forcing few hundred unemployed KP youths to join government service in the valley under the PM employment package cannot be a yardstick for the return of displaced community. The return of the KP community is a political issue and needs a political solution. Dr. Agnishekhar said that the GOI should initiate a dialogue with Panun Kashmir who is ready with a blue print that envisages a permanent and an irreversible return of the exiled community to their homeland which is in complete conformity with the constitution of India. Dr. Agnishekhar also vehemently opposed the move of rehabilitation of terrorists and ill advised move of the state government in granting amnesty to the stone pelting groups operating in the valley who are the ones intentionally working as pawns in the hands of the anti-Indian forces from within and outside the Kashmir valley .The enormity of death, destruction, and lawlessness caused by these elements in a well organized way deserved a strict legal action and not any amnesty. Shri Vijay Bhat, President Panun Kashmir termed the move of amnesty as playing with fire and going all against the patriotic and nationalist forces and eulogizing the separatists and anti-Indian elements. Sanjay Raina, Secretary Political Affair’s committee demanded that the government should unravel the entire conspiracy of Stone Pelting agitation in Kashmir. Shiban Khaibri, Chairman, Media Committee said the situation was rife with uncertainties of all hues and any ad-hoc or patch work approach towards return and rehabilitation would prove counter productive. Sanjay Dattatarrya, National CordinatorPanun Kashmir termed both the moves as lacking substance and utility. Secretary (Media & Press) V Koul |
A timely initiative to kindle the minds of Kashmiri Bhattas to conserve their culture and survive their distinct entity.The pooling of the minds and brains is going to give birth to new ideas and approaches those will prompt all of us to break off from a state of hopeless despondency that we are in.Shehjar has done a superb job.The team deserves kudos.
Added By pushkar ganjoo
This effort by Shehjar is amazing and something that will take our cause to next level. I feel extremely proud of such an effort.
Added By Sanjay Tickoo
I was very impressed by both the conduct and the contents of the teleconference. I must compliment you and your colleagues for the successful teleconference.
Added By Vijay Dhar
This was a great initiative. Hope Shehjar can will initiate more such exercises that will benefit our community so that we can progress in the right directions.
Added By Dalip Raina
Hope we have more Tele-Conf like this.Great job done by Shehjar publications/Kashmiri Hindu Foundation and many more.
Added By Dr. Amrit Nehru
Nice one, but action of plan need to be implemented rather than discussion
Added By Rakesh Pandit
It was great to be a part of this International Conference where it was not a scripted conference where speakers are instructed to speak on a pre-scripted draft, where a resolution is prepared in advance even before the speakers have spoken. We wanted to be democratic and allow the speakers to present their real opinions and present those to the world.
Added By Deepak Ganju
This was one of the best and very successful conference. Kudos to the organizers.
Added By Sanjay Koul
It is very appreciable. Unity of thought and purpose is utmost important for our community at this juncture, i believe if we follow the path of Jews we can achieve the opportunities this is my thought. My best wishes to all the participants of shehjar world wide
Added By Subodh Mukoo
Great Initiative. Best wishes.
Added By Dr, A K Raina
Thank you for an excellent reporting of conference on Kashmir organized by Shehjar with participation of global scholars.
Added By Prof. Saligram Bhatt
The tele-communication conference by Shehjar is a great success. let all peace loving Kashmiri raise a voice to rehabilitate their unfortunate brothers and sisters in their homes in Kashmir. Most of them are saintly people who are keen to spread peace and common spirituality for humankind.
Added By Prof. Saligram Bhatt
Heartiest congratulations to bring community together....keep it up.....Aahee!
Added By Dalip Langoo
it is better to take arms to revenge our suffering, we should target those who oppose our living,making meeting like apex or anyother makes no sense. it is better time to stand and make struggle get our right, we are people living on 9kg of rice that is we desire after our forefathers have made sacrifice for this nation,i swear by mother i will be first to strike first
Added By rakesh dhar rakesh