Kashmiri Pandits

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: Kashmiri Pandits cast votes at special polling booths in Delhi

J-K Assembly polls: Kashmiri Pandits urge action on longstanding issues

With the first phase of assembly elections set to be held on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmiri Pandit community is raising urgent calls for action on their long-standing issues of unemployment and housing. Nearly 35 years after the mass exodus of 1990, many in the community feel that political parties have repeatedly failed to address their concerns. Babloo Ji Butt, a representative voice of the community, expressed frustration over the unmet promises of political leaders. "For Kashmiri Pandits, it feels like the old saying: 'Hathi ke daant khane ke kuch aur, dikhane ke aur.' For decades, we have heard only lofty claims. We have become accustomed to empty assurances, and it seems that political leaders see us merely as voters," Butt lamented. Despite the challenges, Butt emphasised that relationships between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslim communities remain strong, even as many Pandits have settled outside the region. "Home is still home," he asserted. He highlighted the .

'He's number one terrorist': MoS Bittu's controversial statement on Rahul

Attacking Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the statements he made in the US about the condition of Sikhs in India, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday said that if those "manufacturing bombs" were supporting him, he is the "number one terrorist". Bittu, the MoS for railways, made the remark in Bihar's Bhagalpur where he came to attend the flagging-off ceremony of a Vande Bharat Express train to Howrah. Condemning the statement, the Congress said he was talking "like a senseless man". Speaking to reporters, Bittu said, "Rahul Gandhi spent most of his time outside the country. His friends and family are there. I think he does not love his country much because he goes abroad and says negative things about India. I think he is not a Hindustani." "Now, he has got support from separatists, who always talk about dividing this country. They (separatists) and the most-wanted persons are also appreciating Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Sikhs. When such people, who are al

Many Kashmiri Pandit bodies to avoid J&K polls over 'genocide denial'

As the polling dates for the maiden Assembly polls after abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir draws near, several organisations of the Kashmiri Pandit community has decided to refrain from the electoral process in the Union Territory over persistent denial of their genocide. The decision to abstain from the polling was taken at Kashmiri pandit citizens meet held here in the light of the Assembly elections scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The event, attended by a significant number of Kashmiri Pandit leaders, focused on the ethical and political dilemma of participating in an election that "continues to disregard the community's demand for recognition of their genocide" and the resultant "forced exodus" from their homeland. For decades now, we have been a community in exile, watching as successive governments and political parties utilise our exodus and our suffering as talking points during elections. Yet, when it comes to addressi

J-K polls: 14 Kashmiri Pandits enter fray, return of displaced their aim

So far, 14 Kashmiri Pandits have filed nominations to contest from the valley for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, aiming to ensure the return and rehabilitation of their fellow community members, whose number run up to 3 lakh. Srinagar's Habba Kadal assembly constituency has virtually turned into an electoral battlefield for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. A record six KPs out of the 14 have filed their nomination from the assembly segment, which goes to polls, along with 26 other constituencies in the second phase of elections, on September 25. "As many as six candidates from the KP community have filed their nomination papers in Habba Kadal. Of them, five have filed under recognised political parties, while two have filed as Independents. A total of 14 candidates have filed their nominations," an election department official told PTI. Ashok Kumar Bhat has filed his papers as the BJP candidate, Sanjay Saraf as the Lok Jan Shakti Party candidate, and Santosh Labr

24 polling stations set for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi

The Election Commission (EC) has set up 24 special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi to facilitate voting by Kashmiri migrants in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, a senior official said. People who were displaced from the Kashmir Valley and are residing in Jammu and Udhampur will not have to fill Form-M, as was done in the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole said in a statement issued on Friday. "Kashmiri migrant voters residing in various relief camps in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi, who have opted to cast their votes in person through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the election, can do so at 24 polling stations -- 19 in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur and 4 in Delhi," he said. "Continuing with the historic decision taken by the ECI during the Lok Sabha elections, the earlier requirement for migrant electors in Jammu and Udhampur to fill out Form-M has been removed," he said. Electors residing in zones

The contours of displacement

A collection of essays intricately weaves the stories of a Kashmiri family and their exodus from the Valley

PDP will support return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley: Mehbooba Mufti

Reaching out to displaced Kashmiri Pandits, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday assured them of her party's support in their return and rehabilitation in the valley, provided they "demonstrate boldness and come back to their homes". Mehbooba, a former chief minister who is fighting Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, said no government at the Centre can rehabilitate the community on its own and if the elderly Kashmiri Pandits "take risk" and return, their children will follow. Today it is the BJP, maybe tomorrow Congress will come to power in Delhi but any party that is in power can never pick you up and take you to Kashmir. That is not going to happen and you have to show boldness on your part for your return to your homes in the valley and we will also support you, she said, addressing a gathering of Kashmiri Pandits here. The former J-K chief minister said she had suggested to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who had announced five marlas of land to the ...

LS polls: Over 25k displaced Kashmiri Pandits eligible to vote in Baramulla

More than 25,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits voters from across the country are eligible to exercise their franchise in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla constituency on May 20. The constituency is gearing up for an intense electoral showdown for the fifth phase of elections with nearly 17.32 lakh voters, of which 8.59 lakh are women, to decide the fate of 23 candidates in the fray. The main contest is between Sajad Lone of the People's Conference and Omar Abdullah of the National Conference. "A total of 25,821 Kashmiri migrants are registered as voters from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency on May 20. Of these, 12,747 are male voters and 13,074 are female voters," Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), Migrants, Riaz Ahmed told PTI. Twenty-six polling stations have been set up for the migrants, of which 21 are in Jammu, four in Delhi, and one in Udhampur, he said. The Election Commission has arranged a pick-and-drop facility for the Kashmiri ..

EC establishes 4 special polling booths for Kashmiri migrants in Delhi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up four special polling booths for the Kashmiri migrant community at various locations in Delhi, officials on Wednesday said. Over 1.13 lakh Kashmiri migrants are registered to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for the Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies in the Kashmir Valley, they said. Polling for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency will be held on May 25 followed by Srinagar on May 13 and Baramulla on May 20. "To facilitate the Kashmiri migrants residing in Delhi to cast their votes in person on the polling days during the Lok Sabha elections for seats across Jammu and Kashmir, the ECI has established special polling booths for the community at four different locations in the capital," an official spokesman said. These booths are located at the Kashmir Resident Commission on Prithviraj Road, Kashmir Kisan Ghar in Shalimar Bagh, Arwachin International Public School in Dilshad Garden and GGSSS Paprawat in Najafgarh,

LS polls: Kashmiri Pandit outfit AIKHF merges itself with Congress in Jammu

A Kashmiri Pandit outfit, All India Kashmiri Hindu Forum (AIKHF), merged with the Congress at the party headquarters here on Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani welcomed AIKHF chairman Rattan Lal Bhan and other office bearers into the party fold. The AIKHF was formed in 1998. Hundreds of its members joining the Congress is a big boost for the party, Wani told reporters. He also called on all Kashmiri Pandit organisations to join the party and accused the BJP-led central government of "fooling" the community for the past 10 years. "The BJP sold (their plight) across the country to come to power and assured the community that they will do a lot for their rehabilitation, giving them hope. "The BJP has been in power for the last 10 years but failed to do any work worth even 10 paise for them," Wani said. "I appeal to other Kashmiri Pandit groups to come back to the Congress as the BJP is only fooling them for the last 10 years. The Nehru

BJP used Kashmiri Pandits' pain as weapon to garner votes: Mehbooba Mufti

The BJP has used the Kashmiri Pandit community's pain and suffering as a "weapon" to garner votes across the country, People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Tuesday. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) president was speaking after visiting the residence of Roshan Lal, a Kashmiri Pandit and a photojournalist who died last month, in the city's Abi Guzar area. "The BJP has not only used the Kashmiri Pandits as a vote bank but as a weapon as well. It has used the pain of the Kashmiri Pandits as a weapon and then used that weapon to garner the votes of others," she alleged. "The Pandit community does not have so many votes themselves but the BJP used their pain and suffering and went around seeking votes in their name, without doing anything for them," she told reporters. Mehbooba, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state, said since the BJP-led Centre began to directly administer Jammu and Kashmir, "even those Kashmiri Pandits who used to live here have left ..

Over 113,000 Kashmiri migrants eligible to vote for 3 LS seats in Kashmir

Over 1.13 lakh Kashmiri migrants are registered to cast their votes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for three seats in the Valley, officials said. The Jammu and Kashmir administration will hold special awareness camps for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu and Udhampur districts from April 3 to 14 to ensure their participation in the Lok Sabha elections. "We have 1.13 lakh registered Kashmiri migrant voters as of now. The updated voter list is being prepared as per the election process," Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani told PTI. Karwani, who is looking after the arrangements for the polling of migrants, said that polling will be held in three phases in the Valley. "In Anantnag, polling will be held on May 7, followed by Srinagar on May 13 and Baramulla on May 20. It will be held in three phases, and polling stations for each constituency will be the same, Karwani said. A total of 26 polling stations have been set up for the migrants, out of which 21 polling stat

J-K Lt Guv Manoj Sinha calls on Kashmiri Pandit youth to register as voters

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called on youngsters from the Kashmiri Pandit community to register as voters to ensure their full participation in forthcoming elections in the Union Territory. Besides the Lok Sabha polls, the elections to the assembly, panchayats, local bodies and municipal corporations are expected to be held in the coming days. "The parliament, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had nominated two persons belonging to your community in the assembly. It is not an ordinary decision but a very important decision," the Lt Governor said after laying the foundation stone of a synthetic football turf at the Jagti Kashmiri Pandit camp on the outskirts of Jammu city. He said that elections are the biggest power in a democracy. "The registration of new voters (of your community) is ongoing. Those who have turned 18 years should ensure their voter registration," he said. "I urge the youth of the Kashmiri Pandit community to

Budget 2024 LIVE news: Auto firms seek continued push for green mobility

Budget LIVE: Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the interim budget on February 1, catch all the Budget related updates here

Kashmiri Pandits urge Centre to increase relief, jobs in Budget session

The displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Friday urged the Centre to increase their monthly relief amount and allocate a new employment package featuring 5,000 jobs in the Kashmir Valley during the upcoming Budget session. A Kashmiri Pandit family, lacking any government employee as its member, currently receives "meagre" Rs 13,000 per month for sustenance without any enhancement during the last one decade. The families with government employees, however, do not receive such relief. "I request the central government to keep a separate amount for the Kashmiri Pandit community in the forthcoming Budget. I will press for implementation of two things and will urge the Finance Ministry and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ji. There should be enhancement of relief amount to the community as early as possible in this Budget session," Head of Kashmiri Pandit Volunteers (KPV) Vikram Kaul told PTI. Expressing optimism, he hoped that the BJP government, despite a perceived lack of significant initiativ

Azad's comments on Kashmiri Pandits' displacement to bail out culprits: BJP

The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Friday targeted Democratic Progressive Azad party (DPAP) chairman Gulam Nabi Azad for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Kashmiri Pandits in his autobiography Azaad. It said reasons identified by Azad as being responsible for the displacement of the minority community members from the Valley is to to bail out the real culprits. "We condemn Azad for abusing and hurting the sentiments of Kashmiri Pandit community in his autobiography as reported by the media. We blame Azad for being equally responsible for the forced displacement of a religious minority of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in 1989-90," BJP spokesperson and former legislator Girdhari Lal Raina told reporters here. Blaming Azad for being one of the persons at helm responsible for the death and destruction in Jammu Kashmir, Raina said that his studied silence over gathering storm from 1980 onwards and infiltration and exfiltration of terrorists and unilateral attacks on the minority ..

Kashmiri Pandit ATM guard shot dead by terrorists in J&K's Pulwama: Police

Terrorists on Sunday shot dead a 40-year-old Kashmiri Pandit man in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district while he was on his way to a local market, police said. Sanjay Sharma (40), who worked as an ATM guard, was shot in the chest at point-blank range in the Achan area of the south Kashmir district around 11 am, they added. "Terrorists fired upon one civilian from minority namely Sanjay Sharma S/O Kashinath Sharma R/O Achan Pulwama while on way to local market," the Kashmir Zone police wrote on Twitter. They said Sharma was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to the injuries. "There was armed guard in his village. Area cordoned off. Details shall follow," police said. Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the victim's village. The deceased worked as an ATM guard in a bank but was not reporting to duty of late following an earlier spate of terror attacks on his community members, his colleagues said. Political parties condemned the killing, terming it "senseless". "Deeply sa

Kashmiri Pandits are asking what has govt done for us: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi had a conversation with the group in Jammu where Kashmiri Pandits complained about the apathy they were facing from the government

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The death toll stands at 530,728, the data updated at 8 am stated