Twenty Nine Years After Being Forced Into Exile, Kashmiri Pandits Set For Electoral Debut In J&K

The exiled Kashmiri Pandits are all set to make their electoral debut to fight for justice and honour in the coming assembly elections in terror affected Jammu and Kashmir, reports DNA.

According to the report, twenty nine years after facing forced exile from their motherland, migrant Kashmiri Pandits have formed a political party - the Kashmiri Pandit Political Action Committee (KPPAC).

The party, headed by Supreme Court’s senior advocate Ashok Bhan, has been formed with an aim to fight for justice, return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, and to protect their rights.

As per the report, the KPPAC is all set to field its candidates in various constituencies in the upcoming state assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. in fielding candidates in different constituencies in the forthcoming assembly polls.

The move to field candidates for assembly polls on its own by any political organisation of Kashmiri Pandits will reportedly be first such instance since their forced migration from the valley.

"We are intending to field candidates in the polls. At the same time, we are not closing our doors to allies. We will be fielding candidates from KPPAC platforms. Most of the political parties have been behaving inhumanly. It is at the time of elections they throw candies and freebies, which is not acceptable. We are also human and we want to live with dignity," vice president of KPPAC Satish Mahaldar was quoted in the report as saying.

The organisation has already started a membership drive across the country to explore the support for the move.