Bharat Jodo Yatra: Kashmiri Pandits meet Rahul Gandhi over targeted killings by terrorists

With fear gripping the Kashmiri Pandit community due to terrorist attacks targeted at civilians, a delegation met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on 23 January 2023.

A group of migrant Pandits met Gandhi in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The participants said that "targeted killings" by terrorists, and the consequent protests by Pandit government employees were discussed in the meeting.

The delegation also invited Gandhi to visit their Jagti township along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

"We had a very good interaction with Gandhi and we briefed him about the issues of the community, especially the prime minister's package employees who were provided jobs by the previous UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. They are on protest over the past six months in Jammu and their salaries have been withheld," social activist Amit Koul, who was part of the delegation, told news agency PTI.

Nearly 4,000 Kashmiri migrant pandits are working in different departments in the Valley after their selection under the prime minister's employment package announced in 2008. The package has two major components - 6,000 jobs for the youth from the community, and building as many accommodation units for the recruited employees.

However, many of the employees fled to Jammu after one of their colleagues, Rahul Bhat, was shot dead by terrorists inside his office in Budgam district on May 12 last year in what was described as a case of targeted killing. They are on a strike demanding their relocation out of the Valley.

"We also raised other issues of the community including the need for enhancement of relief. We requested him to visit our township Jagti or send a delegation but he assured that he will visit Jagti himself and raise their issues within and outside Parliament," Koul said.

(With PTI inputs)

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