US lawmakers concerned over Pandits' plight

United States Congressmen Frank Pallone and Sherrod Brown have expressed concern over the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and urged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to create a 'political and economic' safety net for them.

In a letter to Vajpayee, the founding members of Congressional India Caucus said Vajpayee's 'inability' to mention the Nadimarg massacre -- in which 24 Pandits were killed by terrorists -- during his visit to Kashmir in April left a lasting impression that the community was being ignored by state and central governments.

"On April 18th in Srinagar, you expressed your sentiments towards Kashmiri Muslims who feel disenfranchised within the Indian polity. We request that you make a public address informing Pandits about how they can be included in Kashmir polity and in the peace process between India and Pakistan," they said.

"We fail to understand how the state and central governments can continue to ignore the long-standing situation in Jammu and Kashmir," they added. "Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a coherent and sustained process to restore the valley to its diverse history."

Pallone and Brown said no community in the state suffered more violence than the Kashmiri Pandits, who have been brutalised by Islamic fundamentalists. This resulted in their mass exodus from the valley since 1990s, making them refugees in their own country, they added.

The two lawmakers pointed to a series of cold-blooded murders against Pandits in Sangrampora (1996), Wandhama (1998), Talwani (2000), and Nadimarg (2003), as the government's failure to protect the community.

Pallone and Brown, however, congratulated the prime minister on yet another peace initiative with Pakistan.