‘A lot has changed after the removal of Article 370, now there is no fear like before’, Kashmiri Pandits expressed their views

Elections for the 90 assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on 18 September, 25 September and 1 October. The results will be declared on 8 October. Before the upcoming assembly elections, the stage of ‘Panchayat Aaj Tak’ has been set. All the political parties and their leaders of Jammu and Kashmir are participating in this program and expressing their views on the issues related to the Union Territory. In this episode, three leaders of the Kashmiri Pandit community working in Jammu and Kashmir also appeared on the stage of Panchayat Aaj Tak.

Daisy Raina of RPI, Sanjay Saraf of RLJP and Veer Saraf of BJP shared their views on Panchayat Aaj Tak’s platform on how things have changed for Kashmiri Pandits since the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, and what changes have come in their lives. Let us tell you that Daisy Raina is contesting the election from Pulwama on an RPI ticket this time. Sanjay Saraf is the RLJP candidate from Anantnag and Habakdal seats. Veer Saraf is the BJP candidate from Anantnag.

Now the situation is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago: Veer Sarraf

Veer Sarraf said that most Kashmiri Pandits are still living a life of displacement. Only a few people have come here, who thought that we have to live united with the majority again. A lot has changed. Although there have been targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the last few years, the situation is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago. Now Kashmiri Pandits do not have that fear in their minds.

If you want to work for the country then what is there to fear: Daisy Raina

Daisy Raina said that if you want to work for the country, then why be afraid. She said that I came here from Delhi in 2020 and have been working in Pulwama for the last 4 years. I moved to Delhi in 1990. I was not a big politician. I have worked as a Sarpanch. I have traveled without security. I have worked hard and worked for my community and Muslims here.

No child is born with stones and guns: Sanjay Sarraf

Sanjay Sarraf said that when it comes to elections in Jammu and Kashmir, I do not think in my mind that I am contesting elections as a Kashmiri Pandit. There was never any enmity between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. Whatever happened here happened because of politicians. No child was born here with stones and guns, this environment was created. I am working at ground zero. With the help of Muslim brothers, I celebrated Dussehra and Janmashtami. I always felt that there is brotherhood among the people here. There were political reasons behind whatever happened.

Militancy came because of JKNC and Congress: Veer Sarraf

Will the influence of BJP be visible in Kashmir Valley in Jammu Kashmir elections? In response to this Veer Sarraf said that I address the youth in my campaign. The problem with us Kashmiris is that we keep our children away from the truth. Kashmiri Muslims do not tell their children why Kashmiri Pandits are not in the valley and Kashmiri Pandits do not tell their children why the Muslims of the valley are not in Jammu. That is why I address these issues. National Conference and Congress together created militancy here and got innocent people killed.

Educated Kashmiris are understanding what is wrong: Veer Sarraf

Veer Sarraf said that guns were given to innocent Kashmiris, they were paid to throw stones. Common Kashmiris did not tell these things to their children. When I went to the rural areas of Kashmir valley, the children and youth there do not know the history of how militancy was born here. Everyone thinks that Kashmiri Pandits are villains. They are new in this world. You will be surprised by the results of this election. There is an awareness among the youth. They have understood the fight for power between PDP and National Conference. Educated Kashmiris are understanding where the problem is.

The government has created an environment, distances have been eliminated: Sanjay Sarraf

Talking about the changes in Jammu and Kashmir, Sanjay Sarraf said, ‘I am not a spokesperson of BJP nor am I associated with it, but I believe that the efforts of the present government have brought about changes here. Today, when a Kashmiri Muslim goes from here to Delhi, even if he can afford a 5 star or 7 star hotel, he calls his old neighbour and friend and asks where are you brother and stays at his place. Similarly, when a Kashmiri Pandit comes from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir, he is able to stay in a good hotel here, but he calls his old friend or neighbour and he goes to his old locality and stays with him. So there is no doubt that the distances have ended. The present government has created an environment, due to which today on Fridays people offer Namaaz in Masjid Sharif and they do not fear that after going out there will be stone pelting and I will not be able to go to my house. When a child returns from school, he is not afraid that a policeman will catch him or a bullet will come.