Senior Advocate and Chairman Kashmir (Policy & Strategy ) Group Ashok Bhan has said that the people’s democratic mandate in Jammu and Kashmir must be fully respected by empowering the elected government to fulfil the commitments made to the electorate.

 

In a statement, he said the overwhelming participation of the people in the electoral process represented a decisive affirmation of democracy and a rejection of the violence and separatist narrative that had dominated the Valley for decades, bringing immense human suffering, death and destruction. 

 

The elected government, he said, must now honour its promises without political expediency or excuses.

Bhan emphasized that among the foremost commitments requiring urgent attention is the safe, dignified and sustainable return and rehabilitation of the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community. 

 

He urged both the Union Territory administration and the Government of India to prepare and implement a time-bound roadmap for their return, including the establishment of modern, secure and smart composite townships at district headquarters across the Kashmir Valley, while ensuring equal opportunities for employment, education, healthcare and cultural preservation.

 

 

Sharing his recent experience of visiting whole of the Kashmir, and wider interactions with cross sections of Kashmiri society Bhan said he sensed a genuine opportunity for the displaced community to return to its native homeland. 

 

“There is a growing societal acceptance, a vibrant democratic atmosphere and a robust security framework, all of which inspire confidence regarding the safety and future of returning families,” he observed. 

 

He added that the warmth and goodwill extended by ordinary Kashmiris during recent interactions reflected a sincere desire for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

 

Bhan called upon Kashmiri Pandit representatives and civil society to adopt a forward-looking approach and contribute positively to the changing socio-political environment in Kashmir. He said the community must actively participate in rebuilding trust, strengthening participatory democracy and reinforcing the inclusive idea of India in Jammu and Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 

According to him, the Valley’s social and political life remains incomplete without the larger physical presence and meaningful participation of Kashmiri Pandits in its daily affairs.

He further stressed that the return process must go beyond physical rehabilitation and include sustained confidence-building measures, institutional safeguards, protection of cultural and religious heritage, restoration of community properties, and meaningful engagement between communities. Such measures, he said, would create an enduring foundation for reconciliation and enable future generations to inherit a peaceful, pluralistic and confident Kashmir.

 

 

Highlighting the importance of justice and healing, Bhan advocated the establishment of a time-bound and impartial Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine human rights violations committed by both state and non-state actors since the 1980s. He observed that an honest acknowledgement of the pain suffered by all communities, including the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989–90 and the immense losses endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir during decades of violence, would help heal deep societal wounds, restore mutual trust and address the sense of alienation among the younger generation.

 

 

“Kashmir is civilizationally incomplete without the presence of its indigenous Kashmiri Pandit community,” Bhan said, adding that exiled Kashmiri Pandits across the globe continue to long for a dignified return to their homeland. He urged both the Government of India and the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir to work together with civil society to make this historic process a reality.

 

 

Legal eagle Bhan :underlined that initiatives such as “Heart to Heart – Dil Se Dil Tak” held recently in Srinagar by Civil society leaders are essential for bridging differences and bringing communities closer together. He said dialogue, reconciliation and mutual understanding remain the most effective instruments for building a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. He appealed to all sections of society to strengthen the bonds of trust, compassion and coexistence that form the foundation of lasting peace. (KNS)