Centre, J-K govt 'insensitive' towards KPs: AIKS

"The Government, both at the Centre and in the state are insensitive to our plight. It is a shame that even after two decades of displacement, our community members are treated like second rate citizen," All-India Kashmiri Samaj President, Moti Kaul, told reporters on the sidelines of a regional conclave of the body here.

He said it has been 22 years now that the community is forced to live like "refugees" in their own country and "struggle for survival".

"The Government talks about rehabilitating Pandits in the Valley, but there is no blueprint for our permanent rehabilitation," he said

Kaul further said, "It is ironic that a peace-loving community, whose nearly four lakh members were forced to leave their homes under the shadow of gun, continue to remain displaced," he said.

Alleging that mainstream political parties in J-K are not playing the role that they should in ensuring safe return of the community members to Valley, Kaul said,"we want to know from the government are there some vested interests who do not want us back."

"To preserve the ethno-religious identity of the community, both central and state governments, must take necessary steps to grant minority status to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits," he said.

He also asked for immediate enhancement of cash relief, implementation of employment package and better living conditions at migrant camp at Jagti in Jammu.

Replying to a question, Kaul termed the report of the Centre appointed Interlocutors as an "eyewash to please the separatists".

The conclave was hosted by Kashmiri Sahayak Sabha, Chandigarh, an affiliate of AIKS, in which other affiliates from the north including from Ludhiana, Panchkula, Solan and Shimla took part.