The Hindu : Kashmiri Pandits meet Jethmalani

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Sunday, Aug 11, 2002

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Kashmiri Pandits meet Jethmalani

New Delhi Aug. 10. The displaced Kashmiri Pandits have sought representation for the community in the Assembly through nomination, arguing that being a miniscule part of the population they have no say in Government formation.

Three Kashmiri Pandits should be nominated to the Assembly who would be answerable to the community, a delegation of Kashmiri Samiti told the ``Kashmir Committee'' chairman, Ram Jethmalani, during a meeting here.

Justifying the demand, the delegation argued that ``none of the political parties represented their aspirations nor anybody seemed answerable to the community,'' the Kashmiri Samiti president, Sunil Shakdher, said.

He said the Kashmiri Pandits wanted to be a part of the political process but the community is never taken into confidence. ``Even while deciding on the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Election Commission did not discuss the issue with us,'' Mr. Shakdher said.

The Samiti also regretted that the Election Commission did not visit the refugee camps where lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits were lodged for the last 12 years, but toured the refugee camps in Gujarat. — PTI

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