The BJP promised to help Kashmiri Pandits return home after they were forced to flee in 1990. But decades later, Kashmiri Pandits are still living in exile. Is the BJP betraying the trust of the Pandit community? Let’s dicuss BJP’s role in Kashmiri pandit Exodus.
Kashmiri Pandits are being used as a vote bank. They suffered heavily due to the Rajiv Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah accord in 1986, and rigging elections in 1987, which is believed to cause the political turmoil in Kashmir giving way to the radical movement. BJP’s Role in Kashmiri Pandits exodus is even more concerning
Role of Various Governments
Let’s understand the role of both the Congress and BJP’s role in the Kashmiri Pandits Exodus
The Rajiv-Farooq Accord, also known as the Rajiv-Farooq Agreement, was signed in 1986 between the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah. The accord aimed to resolve some of the political issues that had arisen in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The state assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir in 1987 are widely believed to have been rigged, which led to a loss of faith among the people of the state in the democratic process. The rigged election results caused widespread resentment among the Muslim population of the state, who believed that their votes had been stolen by the ruling National Conference party in collusion with the Indian national Congress headed by Rajiv Gandhi.
This led to a separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir, with some Kashmiri People resorting to violence and terrorism to demand independence from India. The rigged election was one of the factors that fuelled the insurgency that began in the late 1980s and continued for several years. Though , I do not believe the insurgency was due to Rigging elections. I have provided the detailed information about my observation in detail in my book
BJP’s support to VP Singh
In 1989, VP Singh became the Prime Minister of India with the support of several political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The political situation at that time was complex, and no single party had obtained a clear majority in the general elections held in November 1989.
During this period, the BJP, known for its so-called Hindutva, supported the VP Singh government, which released five dreaded terrorists of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front ( JKLF) headed by Yasin Malik, further escalating the situation for the Kashmiri Pandits.
BJP did not withdraw support when VP Singh’s government headed by Mufti Sayeed as home minister of India released Five terrorists in exchange for Rubaiyya Syed Release in 1989. What type of Hindutva was this when BJP Let terrorists free to kill Kashmiri Pandits? Subseqently what happened on 19 January, 1990 in Kashmir was not any lesser than the Genocide
Moreover, in 1999, the BJP released Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad, known for orchestrating several terrorist attacks. This raises questions about the party’s commitment to the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits.
BJP’s Political Ploy with Kashmiri Pandits
Empty Promises and Token Gestures
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has failed to fulfil its promises to help the Kashmiri Pandit community return to their homes in Kashmir.
BJP since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has done little to help the Pandits return to Kashmir. In fact, the situation for the Pandits has only gotten worse. In recent years, there have been a number of attacks on Pandits in Kashmir, and many Pandits have been killed or injured.
BJP Gaining Political Mileage on Kashmiri Pandits
It is unfortunate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always tried to gain political mileage from the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. Their spokespersons have used every platform to highlight the Kashmiri Pandits Exodus by Congress and national conference, showcasing that they support the Kashmiri Pandits. However, on the ground, the BJP has done very little to help the Kashmiri Pandits.
One of the most prominent examples of this is the promotion of the movie The Kashmir Files by the top leaders of the BJP. The movie depicts the atrocities faced by the Kashmiri Pandits during their exodus from the valley. The BJP leaders have used this movie as a tool to gain public sympathy and support for their party. However, their actions have not translated into any real help or support for the Kashmiri Pandits.
The BJP must put an end to using the Kashmiri Pandits as a political pawn and instead take concrete actions to support them. It is crucial for them to focus on creating a safe environment in the valley, allowing the Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homes and live with dignity and respect. The sincerity of the BJP’s concern for the Kashmiri Pandits needs to be proven and not seen as a mere political tactic.
Amit Shah’s False statement on the floor of Parliament
During a Parliament session, Amit Shah made inaccurate statements about the number of Kashmiri Pandits receiving relief, falsely claiming that 44,000 families were receiving it while the reality was only 22,000 families were. Furthermore, there was misleading information about the government providing a fixed amount of 13,000 per month to each family, whereas the actual relief amount varies depending on the number of family members and their circumstances. Unfortunately, there has been no increase in the relief amount since 2018.
Continuing woes of Kashmiri Pandits
It is distressing that the Kashmiri Pandits, who once lived in affluent homes, are now facing unemployment and the impact of inflation. Additionally, it is disrespectful that Amit Shah mentioned providing only 6,000 residential houses to employees through a program initiated by the Congress, and then tried to portray it as a significant accomplishment of the BJP. This move seems insufficient, given the large population of Kashmiri Pandits, exceeding 300,000. It raises doubts about whether the BJP’s resettlement promises for the Kashmiri Pandits in their election manifestos were genuine or merely an attempt to secure votes.
The BJP has frequently exploited the Kashmiri Pandit issue to gain electoral advantages, even using films like “The Kashmir Files” for consolidating their vote bank. However, they have failed to take substantial steps to genuinely assist the Kashmiri Pandits. An appalling incident was when the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, referred to the Kashmiri Pandits as beggars, which is entirely disrespectful.
Now the Million dollar Question is- When would Kashmiri Pandits be able to go Back to Kashmir?
Get all The details of Kashmiri Pandit Exodus
read Uprooted and Forlorn: The tale of Kashmiri pandits in exile
