Marking a tragic milestone, Ashok Pandit, the renowned filmmaker and social crusader, released an impassioned video plea to PM Narendra Modi on the 36th year of Kashmiri Pandits’ forced departure from Kashmir. Shared on Instagram, it vividly revives the nightmare of January 1990.
As midnight struck on the 18th-19th, the valley plunged into orchestrated darkness. Mosques alone lit up, amplifying calls to eradicate Hindus—’Raliv, Chaliv ya Galiv’ (convert, leave, or die). This climate of fear propelled one of modern India’s largest internal displacements.
Fast-forward 36 years: Pandits languish as refugees, most notably in Jammu’s Jagti Camp, ignored by political elites. ‘Dismal conditions persist without basics; their input sidelined in every scheme,’ Pandit charged.
He advocated for a top-tier committee with leaders to visit sites, audit needs spanning decades, and roll out vital amenities for honorable existence. ‘They deserve justice and return,’ he stressed.
Rooted in separatist terror, the exodus shattered a vibrant culture. Official initiatives have been piecemeal, leaving many in limbo.
With the video gaining traction online, it amplifies a long-standing demand. On this anniversary, Pandit’s words challenge the government: Transform rhetoric into rehabilitation, securing a future where Kashmiri Pandits thrive back in their homeland.