Kashmir Cries

By abhay mokashi

The Kashmir Files, a film made by writer director Vivek Agnihotri, has started a major campaign about the condition of Kashmir Pandits, however, the campaign is restricted to the social media.

There can be no doubt that the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the erstwhile state, is one of the largest forced migrations of any section of people in the country and our heart has to go to the people.

It needs to be accepted that the film, without getting into its merits, has started a debate on the situation of the ousted Kashmiri Pandits. The social media is flooded with messages about Kashmiri Pandits and expectedly the tone of the messages is the same. An impression is being created that the screening of the film is being obstructed in many places. The messages on the social media, after the release of the film, claim that Kashmiri Pandits were killed in large numbers by militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

The messages seem to be part of a plan to create public opinion that the Congress is responsible for the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, from Jammu and Kashmir, not realising that the Congress was not in power at the time of the exodus. The state was under Central rule and Jagmohan Malhotra was the Governor, who later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), became a Member of Parliament as its candidate and also a Union Minister in the BJP government. There have been several claims over the years that Jagmohan, as he was popularly known, was primarily responsible for creating a scare leading to the exodus of Kashmir Pandits from the state. It is wrong to believe that only Hindus, especially Pandits, fled the state. Over the years, a large number of Muslims have also been forced to migrate to other areas.

It is well known that at that time V P Singh was the Prime Minister of India, with the support of the BJP, a party which remained silent on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the state, at that time, as it had other political agenda. BJP gave more importance to Ram Mandir at that time and withdrew support to Singh’s government, when he announced that he would implement the recommendations of Mandal Commission. For the BJP, the Hindutva agenda was important to gain political milage in the country, instead of concentrating on Jammu and Kashmir, by speaking up for the Kashmiri Pandits. The party succeeded in its political gamble, as was seen in the long run.

Even after having come to power at the centre, five times after that and once in the state, the BJP did nothing to bring the Kashmiri Pandits back to their roots. These facts are conveniently ignored by the social media campaigners, aware that those who forward their messages, have a herd-mentality and will not question the statements made in the messages.

A public opinion is also being created that the militants targeted the Pandits and killed them. All killings are bad, but the truth is far from the public opinion being created. According to a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query, militants killed 1,724 persons in Jammu and Kashmir, over a period of 30 years and 89 of those killed by the militants were Kashmiri Pandits.

As Indians, we should feel sorry for the death of every citizen, irrespective of caste or religion, but that does not seem to be the case here. An impression is being created that Muslims killed Hindus in the state. The RTI reply is to the contrary.

Whatever the politics behind the campaign, it is good that people are now speaking about the Kashmiri Pandits. Now a campaign should be launched by those claiming to be concerned about the Pandits, to put pressure on the government to ensure that all those who were forced to migrate from Jammu and Kashmir, should be helped to return to their homes, irrespective of their religion.

Pressure should be put on the Union Government to rehabilitate the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who were forced to move out of the state. At the same time the government should be forced to create employment in the region, so that people are not forced to migrate and also to ensure that peace returns to Jammu and Kashmir. The people will have to move away from social media and come out on the streets to see to it that justice is done to those for whom campaigns are being run on the social media.

Those showing concern for the Kashmiris (unfortunately only for Kashmiri Hindus) should also express concern for those who are being forced to migrate from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in search of jobs. Voice needs to be raised against the forced migration of Dalit, tribals and many other communities for various reasons. Justice cannot be selective; it has to be equal and for all citizens.

We cannot ignore the cries of the people of Kashmir, they are crying for justice, employment, development, education and above all peace; so are millions of others in the country.