NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (KNS) : A senior BJP leader from the Kashmiri Pandit community on Monday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Herath-Mahashivratri greetings but simultaneously urged him to expedite a slew of long-pending demands, including the nomination of two community members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
In a statement here, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo acknowledged the Prime Minister's message on X, wherein Modi described the festival as a reflection of the "rich traditions of our Kashmiri Pandit community" and prayed for wellness and abundance in everyone’s lives.
However, Chrungoo used his response to the Prime Minister to highlight what he termed as "unfulfilled promises" and administrative inaction. In his reply on the microblogging site, he reminded Modi of key assurances, including the nomination of two displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the J&K Assembly, a commitment that has parliamentary sanction under the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Act 2023.
"The government has omitted to nominate two members from the displaced community for the last one and a half years. No court has stayed this process, yet there is silence," Chrungoo said in the statement, alleging an "apathetic and biased mindset" against the displaced community. He argued that the government should be guided by the Supreme Court's precedent regarding nominations to the Puducherry Assembly.
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Chrungoo also pressed the Prime Minister on his campaign trail promise made in September 2024 regarding the enhancement of monthly relief for relief-holders. He noted that the proposal has been pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the last seven years, despite being recommended by the J&K government.
Adding to the list of grievances, he pointed to the delay in streamlining the Additional Monthly Relief (AMR) for Delhi-based displaced families. A decision by the Delhi government on the matter has been pending with the MHA for the last five months, leaving many relief holders without aid for nearly two years.
"The community has been in exile for 35 years. For the last decade, there has been no dialogue with our authorised representatives regarding our resettlement in Kashmir," Chrungoo stated, appealing for a direct dialogue initiated by the Government of India to open "new vistas" for the community.
He further urged the J&K administration to implement all central schemes for the benefit of the displaced population, stressing the need for effective consultations with the Union government and at the departmental level within the Union Territory. (KNS)