Jammu, Apr 29 (NVI): Members of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community on Wednesday staged a protest at the office of the Relief Commissioner here, opposing the implementation of NAFSA and raising issues related to their rehabilitation.
Around 200 protesters, including men, women and youth from various areas of Jammu, participated in the demonstration. The participants included residents from Jagti, Purkhoo and Muthi migrant camps, as well as those living outside camps.
Raising slogans against the Relief Commissioner and other government agencies, the protesters expressed strong opposition to NAFSA, stating that any such measure would not be acceptable until their permanent rehabilitation and address issues are resolved.
The demonstrators also highlighted alleged mismanagement by the Relief Department and voiced concerns over what they termed as forced adoption of NAFSA.
They further alleged that certain self-styled community leaders, who had earlier created confusion, were absent during the protest.
They said the main gate of the Relief Commissioner’s office remained locked during the protest, and the Relief Commissioner was not present. Security personnel were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
The protesters issued a one-week ultimatum to the authorities, asking them to withdraw NAFSA by May 5, failing which they warned of intensifying their agitation.
They also asserted their right to seek legal recourse against what they described as unjust decisions, reiterating their demand for proper rehabilitation, stating that the displaced community has been facing hardships for the past 37 years.(NVI)
