JAMMU: The AllIndia Kashmiri Samaj Migrant Action Committee (AIKSMAC) has rejected the concept of security zones for the displaced families being worked out by the Union Home Minister.

AIKSMAC leaders, including. K.Tikoo, MajorGen B.N.Dhar (reid), H.NJattu and M.L.Aima, told newsmen that the Union Home Minister’s idea of worrying both migrants to security zones in Kashmir was “naive and bereft of understanding of ground realities in the valley.” These leaders felt that it was almost suicidal for forcing the displaced families to return to Kashmir in the present situation.

General Dhar said the security zone concept “does not inspire confidence” when the government had failed to provide security to people in Doda district of the Jammu region where with the rise of militancy a section of people had started migrating to safer areas in Jammu.

The AIKSMAC put fourth two major conditions for the return of the displaced families to Kashmir restoration of absolute normalcy so that people could move about freely and the revamping of the state administration so that people could repose faith on an “honest, unbiased and truly secular administration,”

H.N Jattu said since 1990 unemployed among the Kashmiri educated youth had touched a new high and not even 1% costs in the state government and central departments were being filled. The plight of students was not miser able than it was being given out. By linking their fate with Kashmir University, students belonging to three year degree courses had not been able to complete a year’s course in two years because the university authorities had delayed holding of the examinations and for the past five months the results had not been declared.

Migrant traders continued to be in bad shape. They were not being given loans and shops for resuming their trade activities.

The AIKSMAC leaders wanted the Center and the state administration to issue a white paper on the problem and sufferings of Kashmiri migrants. And this paper should be based on the survey carried out by number of doctors whose reports indicate serious physical and mental ailments and depression owing to economic difficulties having gripped migrants. Meanwhile, a Kashmiri Pandit conference headed by

AN.Vaishnavi also rejected the concept of security zones which it said would have dangerous con sequences. The conference demanded minority status within the state constitutional framework for Kashmiri Pandits so that they enjoyed all constitutional rights.

It demanded that the Kashmiri Pandits be declared as economically deprived community and measures taken for enabling them to have meaningful participation in political, economic and social activities.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 2, 1993