Describing themselves as "political orphans" and the "new untouchables", hundreds of displaced Kashmiri Pandits residing in Jagti township and surrounding camps have accused political parties of exploiting their plight solely for election manifestos and demanded steps for a dignified life as enshrined in the Constitution."Used by everyone, represented by none, this is the real tragedy," advocate Vishva Ranjan Pandita, a resident of the Jagti camp, said, adding, "the hardest exile is the one imposed by our own country".

He said almost all political parties, including the National Conference (NC), Congress, PDP and BJP, have repeatedly promised the safe, secure and dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley in their election manifestos. However, he alleged that these commitments largely disappear once elections are over and said the community wants a clear roadmap and political accountability.Trapped between virtually non-functional civic representation and deteriorating infrastructure, residents across camps for the displaced community that left Kashmir in the 1990s after the outbreak of militancy stated that being pushed to the margins of political discourse has led to their complete neglect, with many even threatening to take "drastic measures" to end their miseries.

Tito Ganju, the chairman of Panun Kashmir, an organisation which has been highlighting the problems faced by migrants in the camps, emphasised the core grievance of the displaced community -- they are remembered by political parties only during election cycles."Kashmiri Pandits may have been made political orphans, but we are not destined to remain political orphans. We are the indigenous bearers of Kashmir's civilisational memory and one of the most enduring expressions of Indianness in the Valley," Ganju said.He alleged that the community is facing........

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