By Vimal Sumbly
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor late Jagmohan had summed up the plight of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir while militancy had started there, most appropriately as “the frightened pigeons”, in his epic book, ‘My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir’. Long after the publication of the book, long after Jagmohan’s death and long after the abrogation of the Article 370, the Kashmiri Pandits continue to remain as frightened as ever. Nothing has changed for them.
Recently one of the militant organisations United Liberation Council (ULC), believed to be a front of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, issued an open threat against Kashmiri Pandits. It named six Kashmiri Pandit employees along with their telephone numbers and a warning that they cannot hide anywhere. The threat was issued even against their family members.
This reportedly led to the Jammu and Kashmir government asking the Kashmiri Pandit employees, who were specially employed during the tenure of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh under an employment package and are called ‘PM Package Employees’, to work from home till August 25. The threats assume seriousness in view of the recent killing of two workers from Chhattisgarh in southern Kashmir. Moreover, in view of the Independence Day celebrations, there is an increased risk of militants’ strikes and the Kashmiri Pandits can become easy targets.
During Dr Manmohan Singh’s tenure, the government of India had conceived the special employment package for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, who were required to work and serve in Kashmir only. This was aimed at “soft and gradual” return of the Kashmiri Pandits back to their homeland with “employment incentive”. The arrangement did start working well as the displaced Kashmiri Pandit employees worked along with the local employees across the state, mixing and mingling well with the local community.
But there were some targeted killings of the ‘PM Package Employees’ at the hands of militants. Their purpose and message are clear to discourage and demoralise all those who have “dared” to return to the valley and work in routine manner without any special or exclusive security arrangements. Now the state government (read the Lieutenant Governor who handles the security issues in Kashmir) has reportedly asked all the Kashmiri Pandit employees to work from home. That is understandable to avoid any danger to the lives of these people. Security is believed to have been enhanced around the places where Kashmiri Pandits are staying.
Also read: Time has come Kashmiri Pandits to reconnect with roots: J&K LG
But this is definitely not going to be a permanent solution to the perpetual threat that Kashmiri Pandit employees are facing in Kashmir. Off and on they are “advised” to work from home whenever some terrorist incident takes place in the valley, like they have been asked now.
While the abrogation of Article 370 has definitely broken the “psychological barrier” between the Kashmiris and the rest of India and majority of them have realised that India being part of Kashmir is an irreversible fact of history, there has not been any other change visible in Kashmir on the ground. The massive rush of tourists to Kashmir from the mainland is not because of the abrogation of Article 370. The heavy rush of tourists has transformed Kashmir’s economy, which is already much better than most of the other states in the country.
What purpose has the abrogation of the Article 370 served, when the Kashmiri Pandits are not able to return to their homeland they were forced to flee 36 years ago. Interestingly, at that time it was the VP Singh government supported from outside by the BJP and also the Communists and it was a Kashmiri Muslim Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who was the union Home Minister when the exodus took place.
Since Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a union territory, the control and command of the security apparatus there is not under the elected government, but the Lieutenant Governor who directly reports to the Government of India. There have been several targeted killings after the abrogation of Article 370 and under the tenure of the current LG. The Pahalgam terror attack also took place during his tenure last year.
Unlike the Governors who have a fixed tenure of five years, the Lieutenant Governors do not have any fixed tenures. It can go beyond five years also. Sinha has been the LG for six years now, having assumed office on August 7, 2020.
In a sensitive place like Kashmir, there cannot be “divided governance”. Jammu and Kashmir is not like any other union territory or semi-state like Delhi. There must be accountability. What is the point of having an elected government which cannot be held accountable for security lapses as security does not come under it. The LG will always remain unaccountable since he does not have to face any legislature or any election as is there “during the pleasure of the President”.
Question is who is accountable and answerable for the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits who have been asked to stay home, just because those responsible for ensuring their security do not sound confident that they can guarantee it. It actually feels the same for the Kashmiri Pandits as it felt 36 years ago when they were selectively targeted and killed for their faith, the same reason for which they are being threatened now and have been asked to “stay home” and “stay safe”.
Follow us
