Now Reading: Kashmiri Pandits say parties use them as election tools
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Kashmiri Pandits say parties use them as election tools
Hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in Jagti township and nearby camps in Jammu have accused political parties of invoking their suffering only during elections. India Today reports they described themselves as…
The Story in Brief
Hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in Jagti township and nearby camps in Jammu have accused political parties of invoking their suffering only during elections. India Today reports they described themselves as 'political orphans' and 'new untouchables,' alleging decades of neglect on infrastructure, employment, and rehabilitation. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 1,13,873 Kashmiri migrant electors were registered across three constituencies, up from 99,000 in 2019. Community leaders said parties remember them only when votes are needed and then abandon their issues. The community left Kashmir in the 1990s due to militancy.
The Indian Opinion
The familiar cycle of poll-time promises and post-election neglect is playing out again for Kashmiri Pandits. 'Political orphans' and 'new untouchables' are harsh self-descriptors, but they reflect a deep disillusionment with every mainstream party. The real test is not the rhetoric in manifestos but the follow-through on rehabilitation, including employment, security, and infrastructure in Jammu camps. Are parties ready to treat this as a permanent political commitment, not a vote-season prop?
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
