Will political Parties rise to the occasion and give Kashmir A Kashmiri Pandit Representative
A Historic Opportunity for Inclusive Democracy and the Restoration of Kashmir’s Shared Civilizational Heritage
06/11/2026
Jammu/Srinagar, November 06(KIP)- After 36 years of displacement, exclusion and broken political promises, the time has come for political parties to demonstrate their commitment through concrete action rather than repeated rhetoric.
The forthcoming Srinagar Parliamentary by-election presents a historic opportunity for political leadership to rise above conventional electoral calculations and make a meaningful contribution towards healing Kashmir’s wounded social and political fabric.
I appeal to the six major political formations — the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Indian National Congress, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference, Apni Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — to rise above partisan interests and collectively consider nominating a credible, educated, visionary and capable Kashmiri Pandit candidate for the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. Independent political representatives and civil society organisations should also extend their support to this initiative.
This is neither a demand for political charity nor for reservation of political space or community-based privilege. It is a call for democratic inclusion and the restoration of a community’s rightful participation in the political life of its ancestral homeland.
### 36 Years of Displacement: Time to Convert Promises into Political Action
For more than three decades, Kashmiri Pandits have remained victims of forced displacement, insecurity, political neglect and unfulfilled assurances. Almost every major political party has, at one time or another, incorporated the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits into its election manifesto. Political leaders have repeatedly acknowledged that Kashmir is incomplete without its Kashmiri Pandit community.
This is the time to translate those assurances into genuine political intent and action.
If these commitments are sincere, why should political parties hesitate to provide a Kashmiri Pandit an opportunity to represent Srinagar in Parliament?
Political representation cannot substitute for rehabilitation, but it can serve as an important confidence-building measure and an instrument for ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of displaced citizens are directly represented in the highest democratic forum.
A capable Kashmiri Pandit representative can effectively represent the aspirations of all sections of Kashmiri society, irrespective of religious affiliations, while raising vital issues concerning employment, economic opportunities, quality education, accessible healthcare, tourism development, social justice, constitutional dignity, security and a peaceful future for coming generations.
### More Than a Community: A Living Civilisational Heritage
Kashmiri Pandits have historically been among the principal custodians and transmitters of Kashmir’s rich intellectual, cultural and spiritual inheritance — the heritage of ancient Sharada Desh.
Excluding this community from meaningful political participation weakens Kashmir’s own civilisational completeness and the pluralistic foundations of its shared heritage.
### An Appeal to Kashmir’s Civil Society
Political parties alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of reconciliation. Kashmir’s civil society, intellectuals, academicians, religious leaders, business organisations, youth groups and community institutions must also come forward.
This initiative should transcend organisational affiliations and electoral loyalties. It should evolve into a collective appeal for restoring democratic confidence and rebuilding the social trust that has suffered enormously over the past 36 years.
### THE SIX-PARTY CHALLENGE: WILL THEY HONOUR THEIR OWN PROMISES?
I place a direct and public challenge before the leadership of JKNC, PDP, Congress, Peoples Conference, Apni Party and BJP:
If you genuinely believe in the return of Kashmiri Pandits, if you genuinely support Kashmir’s composite heritage, and if your election manifestos were more than instruments of electoral mobilisation, then demonstrate your conviction now.
Can these six political formations rise above electoral arithmetic and collectively support a deserving Kashmiri Pandit candidate for the Srinagar Parliamentary by-election?
If they cannot, people have every right to question the sincerity of their repeated promises of reconciliation, rehabilitation and the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
This is an opportunity to make history, mend the social fabric ruptured by events since 1989, and pave the way for a peaceful, cohesive and progressive Kashmir.
Let Srinagar send a powerful message that Kashmir’s future cannot be built by excluding any part of its history, heritage or people.
ONE KASHMIR. SHARED CIVILISATION. EQUAL DIGNITY. INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY.