Political Apathy Deepens Kashmiri Pandits’ Struggle for Return: JK Peace Forum
Srinagar, Mar 6, KNT: Satish Mahaldar, President of the Jammu & Kashmir Peace Forum, has strongly criticized the political leadership for failing to address the long-pending concerns of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, even six years after the resumption of the J&K Assembly.
Mahaldar accused both regional and national political parties of neglecting the issue of the 1989-90 exodus, stating that not a single lawmaker has raised a substantive discussion, proposed a resolution, or devised an action plan for the safe and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits. He lamented that despite repeated electoral promises, there has been no policy, budget allocation, or rehabilitation program to facilitate their return.
“The silence of elected representatives on the displacement and cultural erosion of Kashmiri Pandits is deafening,” Mahaldar said, adding that the community continues to live in exile without assurances of justice. He also highlighted the unchecked sale of temple properties and distress sales of homes due to the ongoing conflict, issues he claimed have been deliberately ignored by political leaders.
Calling it a “direct betrayal,” Mahaldar urged political parties to move beyond rhetoric and take tangible steps toward restoring the rights and cultural heritage of Kashmiri Pandits. “The time for mere promises is over; the time for action has come,” he asserted.
