Even decades later, the forced mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits continues to be a festering wound on Kashmir’s collective conscience. It awaits complete healing as scars of injuries inflicted upon them are still visible.Kashmiri Pandits have not forgotten how they were chased out of the Valley by Pakistan sponsored terrorists and their bosses sitting across the Line of Control (LoC). They had to leave everything behind and flee to save their lives and honour in 1990.

After their mass migration from their homeland whosoever came into power in the Centre assured them that their dignified return to Kashmir will be facilitated. They were promised jobs, separate colonies and special incentives. Unfortunately, not many promises were fulfilled and Kashmiri Pandits had to remain content with lip service and hollow assurances for more than two and a half decades. However, in 2014 when Narendra Modi took over the reins of the country the regime led by him put in extensive efforts to create conducive atmosphere for return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. Results of the hard work done by the Centre during the past 12 years are clearly visible. During theseyears separate and secure colonies have been built for Kashmiri Pandits, the temples that had fallen silent stand revived. They have been provided government jobs and every possible security. All steps have been taken to make them major stakeholders in peace and the development of “Naya Jammu and Kashmir.” 

Prime Minister Modi led regime has driven home a point that story of Kashmir is incomplete without the Kashmiri Pandit community. For centuries, Pandits contributed immensely to the Valley’s........

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