SRINAGAR MAR 19 : A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator from Budgam, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, has submitted a private member’s bill to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly secretariat. Titled “The Kashmiri Pandit and Migrant Re-integration Bill-2026,” it aims to create a legal framework for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits displaced during the 1989-1990 militancy.
The legislation highlights how the mass exodus ruptured social bonds, eroded community trust, and caused deep intergenerational trauma rooted in Kashmir’s syncretic “Kashmiriyat” ethos. It criticizes past government efforts as fragmented and relief-focused, failing to address psychological, cultural, and reconciliatory needs for true reintegration.
The bill proposes establishing the Jammu and Kashmir Re-integration Commission as a statutory body to oversee a comprehensive policy. This includes promoting inter-community dialogues between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims, trauma-healing programs, cultural preservation initiatives like community museums, and advice on safety safeguards. The commission would also coordinate housing, employment, and education to ensure sustainable return and harmony.
Mehdi expects the bill to be tabled when the Assembly budget session resumes on March 27 after a break. Similar efforts, including past relief packages, underscore ongoing demands for holistic rehabilitation amid J&K’s regional politics.
