Amid protests by Kashmiri Pandit employees of the Jammu and Kashmir administration and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s tough stance on it, the Congress party has said they should either be transferred to Jammu or provided security in Kashmir.
Kashmiri Pandits are a minority in the J&K Union territory. Many of the communities were forced to leave Kashmir Valley in the 1990s because of terrorism. The return of targeted killings in the past two years has again plunged Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir into insecurity.
Following a series of killings, protesting Kashmiri Pandit employees are demanding relocation to Jammu. Congress has now backed the demand.
“We cannot leave anyone to die. The jobs were given to them by Congress (government). They lived here for 12 years and never said they want to return to Jammu. After the (recent) targeted killings, they have been on protest,” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Vikar Rasool Wani told reporters in Srinagar.
Amid calls for relocation, J&K LG Sinha sent out a “loud and clear” message to Kashmiri Pandit protesters that no salary would be given to them if they continue to sit home in protest.