Jammu & Kashmir: In a pivotal moment for the displaced Kashmiri Hindus (Pandit community), over 15,500 voters are gearing up to participate in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on September 25. This crucial polling event will span 24 assembly segments across six districts, impacting the political future of 239 candidates.
Displaced Kashmiri Pandits can vote in 15 segments in central Kashmir’s Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal districts. Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani confirmed that comprehensive preparations have been made to ensure a free and fair voting process, including 19 polling stations for more than 14,700 voters in Jammu, alongside four in Delhi and one in Udhampur.
Having faced decades of displacement, the Kashmiri Pandit community is vocal about their primary demand: “Ghar Wapsi,” or the return to their ancestral homes. Community leaders emphasize the urgent need for substantial measures to ensure their safe and dignified rehabilitation in the valley. One leader lamented, “Kashmiri Pandits have been facing a lot of problems, but no one ever cared for them,” urging voters to support candidates committed to addressing their pressing issues, particularly the need for return and rehabilitation.
Beyond the call for homecoming, the community is also focused on development, employment opportunities, and the ongoing challenges stemming from displacement. Many are advocating for political leaders to prioritize these concerns in the post-election landscape. Reports indicate that Kashmiri Pandits have long fought for their rights, insisting on a structured plan for their safe resettlement in Kashmir, where they aspire to rebuild their lives in peace and security.
In the first phase of the assembly elections, which took place on September 18, 24 constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir saw the establishment of special polling booths for the Kashmiri Pandit community, underscoring their vital role in the democratic process. The enthusiastic participation of Kashmiri Pandits, who proudly displayed their inked fingers after voting, highlighted the significance of this electoral moment after a decade-long hiatus.
These elections represent the first assembly polls in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. With 24 seats contested across six districts and over 23 lakh registered voters, the outcomes of these elections are poised to bring much-needed attention to the long-standing issues of the Kashmiri Pandit community. As the elections progress with the remaining phases on September 25 and October 1, and the counting scheduled for October 8, all eyes will be on how this crucial electorate will shape the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
As the Kashmiri Pandit community seeks greater integration and security, some residents, like Karan, express a desire for a government that allows them to live freely alongside their Muslim neighbors rather than in isolated, militarized colonies. Karan reflected on the suffocating nature of these settlements, stating, “My family members feel vulnerable in these colonies, which make us more susceptible to terror attacks.”
Madan Lal, another local Hindu who fled during the turmoil of the 1990s, echoed these sentiments, recounting the fear that drove thousands of Pandits to leave Kashmir. He believes their exodus was the result of a deliberate conspiracy, influenced by external forces that instilled a deep sense of fear in the community.
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