Nasir Azam
Srinagar, May 27: A 25-member Kashmiri Pandit delegation Friday met J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and demanded relocation from Kashmir to Jammu or some other place on fast-track basis stating that nothing was worth a life.
“Twenty five members from our community met LG Sinha. Top bureaucrats were also present there. They heard us patiently. We submitted our memorandum and told LG Sinha that we have only one main demand which is to relocate us from Kashmir to Jammu or some other place,” Avinash Bhat, Spokesman of KPs, said addressing media persons after meeting LG. He said that they got a positive response from the LG and the officers from the administration who assured them all possible support and help.
“LG Sinha assured us that we will be provided with a secure environment and safe accommodations and safe places of postings,” said Bhat, who was heading the KP delegation. He said that they told LG Sinha that Jaan Hai tou Jahan hai (nothing was worth life) and sought relocation from Kashmir to Jammu or some other place. We told LG Sir that promotions and accomodations can wait as our main demand was relocation from Kashmir.”
“We told LG that we don’t want to stay in Kashmir and that we should be posted either in Jammu or some other place. We also urged LG Sir to allow us to reunite with our families back in Jammu,” Avinash said. He said relocation from Kashmir to Jammu was their main demand during the meeting with LG Sinha.
“To our main demand, LG Sir told us that he along with his team of officers will think over it,” Avinash said, adding that “there was a possibility of more meetings with the LG Sir in the days ahead. Today we were given an appointment at 3 pm.” Bhat said that they will not call-off the protests till their main demand is met.
He said that KPs also presented the detailed memorandum to LG Sinha. The memorandum was titled as “Save Us.” Pertinent to mention is that KPs, especially those working in Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP) are up in arms since the past over two weeks after the killing of their colleague Rahul Bhat inside Tehsil office Chadoora, Budgam. The killing evoked widespread condemnation from all quarters including civil society members.
