Panun Kashmir Holds Hunger Strike, Renews Demand for Homeland and Genocide Legislation
JAMMU: The displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, represented by the organization Panun Kashmir, observed a day-long hunger strike on Saturday to press for their long-standing demands. The protest centered on the urgent need for a secure, separate homeland within the Kashmir Valley and the implementation of a national genocide law to address the historical injustices faced by the community.
Gathered in Jammu, members of the organization highlighted the systemic challenges that have persisted for decades since the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. The protest served as a platform to reiterate that the community’s rehabilitation remains incomplete without a formal recognition of the atrocities they endured during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Call for Genocide Legislation
Tito Ganju, the chairperson of Panun Kashmir, addressed the protesters and pointed to international legal frameworks as a catalyst for their demands. Ganju emphasized that since India is a signatory to the United Nations Genocide Convention, it holds a moral and legal obligation to establish specific domestic legislation regarding genocide.
“The enactment of a dedicated Genocide Bill is not merely a policy request; it is a necessity to acknowledge the suffering of our people,” Ganju stated during the event. The organization argues that a formal legal framework would ensure that such crimes are recognized, documented, and prevented in the future, providing a measure of justice that has eluded the displaced community for years.
Demands for Rehabilitation and Economic Relief
Beyond the push for a genocide law, the organization presented a charter of demands aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora. Central to their platform is the vision of a separate Union Territory within the Kashmir Valley, which the group envisions as a secure enclave for the safe return and resettlement of displaced families.
The hunger strike also underscored the dire economic situation facing the younger generation of Kashmiri Pandits. Many youths, who were born into displacement, face significant hurdles in securing employment. Panun Kashmir has formally requested the creation of 15,000 jobs within various central government departments to support both the unemployed and those who have become over-aged due to a lack of professional opportunities.
Furthermore, the organization called for an immediate revision of the government’s support systems. They have urged the administration to enhance monthly financial relief and increase the ex-gratia assistance provided to displaced families, arguing that current aid packages have failed to keep pace with rising living costs and inflation.
As the day-long hunger strike concluded, leaders of Panun Kashmir affirmed their commitment to continuing their agitation until the government takes concrete steps toward fulfilling these requirements. The protest highlights the persistent aspiration of the Kashmiri Pandit community to return to their ancestral homes with dignity, security, and a guarantee of state protection.
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