Elections for 90 assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on 18 September, 25 September and 1 October. The results will be declared on 8 October. The stage of ‘Panchayat Aaj Tak’ has been set before the upcoming assembly elections. All the political parties and their leaders of Jammu and Kashmir are participating in this program and are expressing their views on the issues related to the Union Territory. In this series, three leaders of Kashmiri Pandit community working in Jammu and Kashmir also appeared on the platform of Panchayat Aaj Tak.
RPI’s Daisy Raina, RLJP’s Sanjay Saraf and BJP’s Veer Saraf addressed the Panchayat regarding how things have changed for Kashmiri Pandits after the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, what changes have taken place in their lives. Share your views on Aaj Tak platform. Let us tell you that Daisy Raina is contesting elections from Pulwama this time on RPI ticket. Sanjay Saraf is RLJP candidate from Anantnag and Habakadal seats. Veer Saraf is BJP candidate from Anantnag.
“There was never any enmity between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims, whatever happened happened because of political parties and leaders”: @LjpSaraf (Kashmiri Pandit / RLJP candidate) #PanchayatAajTakJK #PanchayatAajTak | @PoojaShali pic.twitter.com/CUICcz0EaP
— AajTak (@aajtak) September 12, 2024
Now the situation is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago: Veer Saraf
Veer Saraf said that most of the Kashmiri Pandits are currently living a life of displacement. Only a few people have come here who thought that we have to live united with the majority again. There has been a lot of change. Even though there have been targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the last few years, the situation is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago. Now there is no such fear in the minds of Kashmiri Pandits.
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If you want to work for the country then what to fear: Daisy Raina
Daisy Raina said that if you have to work for the country then what is there to fear. She said that I came here from Delhi in 2020 and have been working in Pulwama for the last 4 years. I went to Delhi in 1990. I was not a big politician. I have worked as a sarpanch. Roamed without protection. I have worked hard for my community and the Muslims here.
— AajTak (@aajtak) September 12, 2024
No child is born with stones and guns: Sanjay Saraf
Sanjay Saraf said that when it comes to elections in Jammu and Kashmir, I do not think in my mind that I am contesting elections as a Kashmiri Pandit. There was never any enmity between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. Whatever happened here happened because of politicians. No child was born here with stones and guns, this is the environment created. I am working at ground zero. With the help of Muslim brothers, I celebrated Dussehra and Janmashtami. I always felt that there is brotherhood among the people here. There were political reasons behind what happened.
Militancy came due to JKNC and Congress: Veer Saraf
Will BJP’s influence be seen in Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir elections? In response to this, Veer Saraf said that this is my campaign, I address the youth. The problem with us Kashmiris is that we keep our children away from the truth. Kashmiri Muslims do not tell their children why Kashmiri Pandits are not there in the valley and Kashmiri Pandits do not tell their children why there are no Muslims from the valley in Jammu. That’s why I address these issues. National Conference and Congress together created militancy here and got innocents killed.
Educated Kashmiri understands where the problem lies: Veer Saraf
Veer Saraf said that guns were given in the hands of innocent Kashmiris, after paying them they were made to throw stones. The common Kashmiri did not tell these things to his children. When I went to the rural areas of Kashmir Valley, the children and youth there did not know the history of how militancy came into existence here. Everyone thinks that Kashmiri Pandit is a villain. They are new in this world. You will be surprised by the results of this election. There has been an awareness among the youth. He has understood the fight for the chair between PDP and National Conference. An educated Kashmiri understands where the problem lies.
The biggest election discussion on Jammu and Kashmir! #PanchayatAajTakJK #PanchayatAajTak | @PoojaShali | @LjpSaraf | @veersaraf pic.twitter.com/Q3GBIVFcES
— AajTak (@aajtak) September 12, 2024
Government has created an environment, distances have been erased: Sanjay Saraf
Talking about the changes in Jammu and Kashmir, Sanjay Saraf said- ‘I am not the spokesperson of BJP nor associated with it, but I believe that changes have come here due to the efforts of the present government. Today, when a Kashmiri Muslim goes from here to Delhi, even if he can afford a 5 star or 7 star hotel, he calls his old neighbor and friend and asks, brother, where are you and stays at his place. Similarly, when a Kashmiri Pandit comes to Jammu and Kashmir from Delhi, he is able to stay in a good hotel here, but he calls his old friend or neighbor and he goes to his old locality and stays there. So there is no doubt that the distance has closed. The present government has created an environment due to which today people offer namaz in Masjid Sharif on Fridays and they do not fear that after going out there will be stone pelting and they will not be able to go to their homes. When a child returns from school, he does not fear that a policeman will catch him or he will be shot.