BJP uses Kashmiri Pandits’ plight for political gain: own leader slams

Jammu: Accusing his party of using displaced Kashmiri Pandits for “political gains”, disgruntled BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal on Sunday called upon the party leadership to take meaningful steps to address the “longstanding injustice” with the community, PTI reported.

“This community has been among the most steadfast, yet unpaid, unrecognised, and unacknowledged campaigners for the BJP. Their suffering has been referenced over 500 times in Parliament by the BJP leadership for political gains and used as a tool against every political adversary," Sirwal, who joined the BJP in April last year after leaving Congress, said.

Earlier, on October 3, Sirwal had threatened to resign from the party, citing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "unacceptable" remarks against Muslims and the state police's "vindictive" attitude towards the minority community.

The BJP leader said the leadership must prioritise policies that ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, restore their rights, and provide them with the security and opportunities they have been denied for too long.

“They deserve tangible action, starting with visits by senior leaders to their camps to witness their struggles firsthand, followed by inclusive consultations with community representatives, including the few party members among them, to develop a comprehensive roadmap for their dignified rehabilitation,” Sirwal said in a statement here.

He said he feels compelled to address the plight of the community, a matter of profound concern that demands urgent attention and action.

It is “deeply unfortunate” that not even once have the top leadership, including the Prime Minister or Home Minister, visited their camps to witness the deplorable conditions they endure, he added.

Sirwal said the conditions in their camps, lacking proper housing, healthcare, and opportunities for economic and social reintegration, reflect a “failure to address a humanitarian crisis” that has persisted for over three decades.

The community's trauma is compounded by the absence of sincere dialogue or concrete plans for their safe return and rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP leader said.