Panun Kashmir Rejects Kashmiri Pandits Bill, Demand Genocide Recognition

Panun Kashmir, representing displaced Kashmiri Pandits, rejected a bill recommended by President Murmu for resettlement, alleging it overlooks genocide issues and the community's demand for a homeland. They urged a national law to prosecute genocide actors. The bill's procedural approval was labeled a mere formality by the group.

Panun Kashmir, an organisation representing the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, has firmly rejected a bill recommended by President Droupadi Murmu that proposed the return and rehabilitation of the community. The organisation claims that the bill sidesteps crucial issues of genocide recognition and the community's demand for a separate homeland in Kashmir.

Introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Congress member Vivek Tankha, The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022 has been criticised by Panun Kashmir for subverting the core issues. Dr Ajay Chrungoo and other leaders called the bill a politically motivated move that ignores the real demands and historical context of the community's displacement.

Expressing further criticism, Prof Tito Ganju elaborated on the procedural nature of the bill's recommendation by the President, emphasizing it as a constitutional formality devoid of genuine political commitment. The group reiterated their demand for a comprehensive national law to address genocide and secure justice for the victims.

(With inputs from agencies.)