J&K BJP Leader Slams Party for Ignoring Kashmiri Pandits’ Plight
Jammu: Disgruntled BJP leader Jahanzaib Sirwal, who has accused his party of using displaced Kashmiri Pandits for “political gains”, on Sunday urged the party leadership to “take meaningful steps to address long-standing injustice in the community”. “This community has been among the most committed, yet unpaid, unacknowledged” and unrecognized campaigners for the BJP. Their suffering was mentioned more than 500 times. “Parliament is being entered by the BJP leadership for political gains and is being used as a tool against every political enemy,” said Sirwal, who joined the BJP after quitting the Congress in April last year. he said.
“I urge the party leadership (along with the Kashmiri Pandit community) to take decisive and meaningful steps to redress the long-standing injustice. They deserve more than symbolic gestures or repeated mentions in parliamentary debates,” he 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 prioritize policies that will ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, restore their rights and provide them with the security and opportunities they have been deprived of for long.
“They deserve concrete action, starting with visits to their camps by senior leaders to witness their struggle firsthand, followed by extensive consultations with community representatives, including several party members, to develop a comprehensive roadmap for their dignified rehabilitation,” Sirwal said in a statement here. he said.
He said he felt compelled to address the plight of the community, which is a matter of deep concern that requires urgent attention and action.
He added that it was “extremely unfortunate” that senior leaders, including the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, had not even once visited the camps to witness the deplorable conditions they endured.
Sirwal said conditions in the camps, lacking adequate housing, healthcare and opportunities for economic and social reintegration, reflected a “failure to address the humanitarian crisis” that has persisted for more than three decades.
Terming the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits a “profound human tragedy”, he asserted that it was not merely an economic issue.
“Families were torn from their homes, their cultural and spiritual heritage displaced, and they were forced to live in exile within their own nations, enduring decades of hardship in camps marked by inadequate facilities and neglect,” Sirwal said in the statement. he said.
He condemned the lack of “meaningful negotiation” with the community to redress their grievances or work towards their rehabilitation.
“This lack of engagement stands in stark contrast to the frequent reference to their plight in political rhetoric, which often serves as a tool for electoral advantage rather than a genuine call to action,” he claimed.
The trauma of the community has been further compounded by the absence of a sincere dialogue or concrete plans for their safe return and rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP leader said.
“This negligence not only harms a community that has stood by the party despite immense odds, but also undermines the very principles of justice, inclusivity and compassion that the BJP claims to support,” Sirwal said. he said.
He said the BJP has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to all communities by meeting the legitimate demands of Kashmiri Pandits with the seriousness and urgency they deserve.
“I remain hopeful that the party will rise to this moment, move beyond rhetoric and bring justice and dignity to a community that has suffered in silence for too long,” he said.
