Lok Sabha polls 2014: Kashmiri Pandits prefer BJP, but not all convinced

NEW DELHI: About one lakh Kashmiri Pandits live in National Capital Region, many of them spending their 25th year in exile. The demands made by the community members since their exodus in 1990 haven't changed much, the chief among them being their rehabilitation in a specially earmarked 'homeland' within the valley. However, their expectations over the past few years have decreased drastically as the feeling of being neglected has taken hold.

For many in the community, there isn't much to choose from during this Lok Sabha election. Some will continue to boycott voting as a gesture of discontent against the state. Others express support for their traditional favourite, BJP, despite some of them opining that nothing more than lip service has been offered to them by the party.

Skepticism within the community about the party grew when BJP vetoed the Bill introduced for protection of Hindu shrines in the valley earlier in J&K assembly.

"Only Congress did not govern our nation since independence. BJP, too, got sufficient opportunities. But they did nothing to help us settle back in the Valley, only assured us that they were with us in spirit," says Rashneek Kher, founder member of Roots In Kashmir. He has never cast his vote and says he'll do so only when he's allowed to return to the valley.

AAP being a new party and its position on rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits being unknown, it's yet to find significant support within the community. Although the party's activities and policies may have enthused some Kashmiri Pandit youth, seniors have kept their distance. "The principal founder, Prashant Bhushan, is a sympathizer of Kashmiri separatists. Its member (Kamal Mitra) Chenoy expresses compassion for JKLF leader Yasin Malik. How can such a party be acceptable to any Kashmiri Pandit?" asks Lalit Ambardar, an outspoken community activist.

Kamal Hak, spokesperson for Panun Kashmir, says that since the only party that has spoken for the Pandits is BJP, it has naturally won over some support from the community. "But even if BJP comes to power our expectations from them should be minimal. Of course, whoever is the winner, we will have a few basic demands from them." The demands, he said, were of granting dignity to the community by constituting a committee to probe the events of 1990 and officially declaring the reasons for Hindu mass migration from the state.

Apart from the law to protect ancient Hindu temples in the valley many of which are in ruins, Pandits say they want the next government to grant them status of both minority and internally displaced people.

"This will give us the means to stand on our own feet. It will improve the lot of Pandits surviving on measly government grants. We have to give credit to Shiv Sena for reserving seats for our children when we needed it. We hope BJP will protect our interests if it comes to power," Amit Raina, an RIK member, said.