In a significant move towards addressing the long-standing issue of dignified return and rehabilitation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Rajbhavan (Srinagar) on Monday.
This was her first interaction with Sinha since he took office as Lt Governor of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory in 2020. The meeting centered on pressing regional issues, including the recent cross-border shelling that tragically claimed 18 civilian lives and the critical issue of the return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. Mehbooba Mufti also presented a detailed proposal for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated en masse from the Kashmir Valley following the eruption of militancy in 1990.
According to a Ministry of Home Affairs report, by 2020, 64,951 Kashmiri Pandit families were displaced, with 43,618 families residing in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 in other States and Union Territories. Copies of the proposal were also sent to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
In her proposal, which was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor, Mehbooba emphasised an inclusive, all-stakeholders approach rooted in empathy, mutual trust, and ground realities.
“The Government should initiate a dialogue-driven process involving representatives from the community, civil society, local leaders and relevant administrative agencies,” she said, stressing that only inclusive deliberations can ensure no community feels alienated in their homeland. She described the return of Kashmiri Pandits as a matter of “historical justice, reconciliation, and the restoration of Kashmir’s pluralistic ethos.”
The proposal also outlines several actionable recommendations. Mehbooba called for a comprehensive zonal risk assessment map of the Kashmir Valley to identify high, moderate and low-risk areas, aligning Government postings with individual safety preferences to ensure security for returning Government employees.
She also proposed allotting half a kanal of state land in their district of origin to every displaced Kashmiri Pandit family willing to return. For families whose original homes are dilapidated, she suggested targeted financial grants or interest-free loans for repairs, supported by a technical team to certify restoration work.
Beyond physical rehabilitation, Mehbooba stressed the need for political empowerment, advocating for two reserved constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, replacing the current nomination-based system.
She also proposed an annual multi-day summit to foster dialogue among displaced families, local communities, government officials, and civil society to address challenges and develop collaborative solutions.
To streamline efforts, Mehbooba recommended establishing a Reconciliation and Reintegration Commission (RRC) with quasi-judicial powers to resolve land disputes, address grievances, and coordinate rehabilitation across departments. “The reintegration of Kashmiri Pandits is not just about returning to their ancestral homes but about building a shared, inclusive future for Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, highlighting the need to revitalize the region’s pluralistic heritage.