Hope for Reconciliation: Former CM Mehbooba Mufti proposes a phased, secure return plan for Kashmiri Pandits, calling it a moral and societal imperative to heal Kashmir’s fractured harmony.
By Pravin Kumar
Srinagar, May 26, 2025 —In a significant development, former Chief Minister and President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, today met with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, and formally submitted a detailed memorandum advocating for the dignified return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandit families.
In her letter to LG Sinha, Mufti underscored that the issue transcends political divisions and represents a moral imperative for the region. “It is a societal responsibility to ensure our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are given a chance to return in a manner that is dignified, secure, and sustainable,” she wrote.
The memorandum outlines a comprehensive roadmap focused on reconciliation, safety, and community reintegration. It recalls the large-scale exodus of 1990, during which more than 44,000 families — 90% of them Kashmiri Pandits — were forced to flee the Valley amid escalating militancy and a collapse of governance. Today, over 64,000 families remain displaced across Jammu, Delhi, and other parts of India.
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Former CM Mehbooba Mufti met LG Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan, urging release of Kashmiri youth jailed for minor offences as a goodwill gesture ahead of Eid. She also demanded shifting those with serious charges from Delhi to Kashmir jails to be closer to their families.#Kashmir pic.twitter.com/Izy2PDTAek
— Kashur Mamluk (@Kashur_mamluk) June 2, 2025
The proposal outlines an inclusive and phased roadmap, emphasizing an “all-stakeholders approach” rooted in empathy, mutual trust, and on-ground realities. Mufti called for a dialogue-driven process involving representatives from the Kashmiri Pandit community, civil society, local leaders, and administrative agencies to ensure that no community feels alienated.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has submitted a proposal to J&K LG Manoj Sinha, seeking rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. The proposal outlines land allotment, housing aid, political representation, and institutional reforms. pic.twitter.com/TIeWudm81Z
— Sohil Sehran (@SohilSehran) June 2, 2025
Key Recommendations from the Memorandum Include:
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Secure Employment and Transfer Policy: Proposes reforms to the Prime Minister’s Special Rehabilitation Package, including secure job transfers for Pandit employees away from high-risk zones and the creation of a zone-based employment safety map.
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Land and Housing Support: Suggests allotting half a kanal of state land per returning family in their districts of origin, along with financial assistance for the repair of damaged ancestral homes and infrastructure upgrades.
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Political Representation: Calls for the creation of two reserved constituencies in the J&K Legislative Assembly to ensure direct electoral representation for Kashmiri Pandits.
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Community Engagement: Recommends organizing an annual “Return & Reconnect” summit, appointing dedicated Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), and encouraging direct dialogue between displaced families and local communities.
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Institutional Reform: Proposes transforming the Relief and Rehabilitation Department into a full-fledged Reconciliation and Reintegration Commission (RRC) with quasi-judicial powers, community representation, and cross-departmental authority to manage the reintegration process.
“This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience. It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure, and sustainable,” she wrote.
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Srinagar | After her meeting with J&K LG Manoj Sinha, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, “….I told them that people with less serious charges against them lodged in jails should be released ahead of Eid….” On the issue of rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, she… pic.twitter.com/3BmVnZkVmS
— newspointJ&K (@NewspointjK) June 2, 2025
“Every political party in Jammu & Kashmir, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return,” she noted, highlighting the shared pain of displacement and the collective yearning for reconciliation.
Speaking after the meeting, Mufti stated that “the return of the Kashmiri Pandit community is not just about physical relocation — it is about healing, justice, and restoring the soul of Kashmir’s pluralistic identity.”
Copies of the memorandum have also been forwarded to the Hon’ble Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
