Police Stop KPs Protest March in Jammu Over Rehabilitation and Relief Demands | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday stopped a protest march by members of the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community who attempted to proceed towards the office of the Relief Commissioner in Jammu, demanding rehabilitation, relief assistance, and ration-related benefits.

The protesters, all Kashmiri migrants, had assembled in Jammu and staged a demonstration against the reported integration of migrant ration cards with the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

They demanded that the NFSA framework should not be applied to Kashmiri migrants until they are permanently rehabilitated in Kashmir.

“Apply NFSA only after settling us permanently in Kashmir,” several protesters were heard saying during the demonstration.

They also demanded an enhancement of the monthly relief package and concrete steps for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Police personnel intercepted the march before the protesters could reach the Relief Commissioner’s office. The protest, however, continued peacefully under police supervision.

One protester, criticising the Central Government and the BJP, said the community had expected stronger rehabilitation measures after 2014.

“We believed the government at the Centre would understand our pain and help in our rehabilitation, but we feel ignored,” the protester said.

The protesting migrants alleged that successive promises regarding return, rehabilitation, and welfare measures had not translated into permanent solutions on the ground. [KNT]