9 February, 2026, Press Release (Issued from Delhi NCR): In a global webinar organised today in connection with the latest socio-political scenario available in Jammu and Kashmir UT, concern was expressed in regard to the issues confronting the society in the UT with a particular reference to the exiled Kashmiri Pandits. Members who attended the seminar agreed that there was need to put the national narrative on various issues in J&K in an appropriate perspective so that a positive debate is generated and evolved eventually.

Those who participated in the webinar included Virender Raina, President, Panun Kashmir, Utpal Kaul senior KP leader, Upinder Kaul, Kamal Bagati, Rajinder Kaul, Sameer Bhat, P.K.Bhan, K.K.Kaul, Ashok Chrungoo, Rajesh Kaul, K.K.Bujoo, Uttam Dhar and Vimal Pandita. Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, senior BJP & KP leader made a presentation on the issue of demographic balance in the J&K UT.

In this connection, the main focus remained on the current geo-political scenario affecting the political discourse in the UT. The continuous assault on the Shia sect of the Muslim community in Pakistan, PoJK and even in areas contiguous to Afghanistan, China and Iran is a real cause of concern. The kind of heat that these developments have created has forced a number of sections of the society in J&K and Ladakh UTs to protest against these killings, selective bomb explosions and torture inflicted upon the people in these areas. Ladakh and J&K are surely on boil in this regard.

The participants also expressed their view points about the issues pertaining to the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community who continue to live in exile scattered throughout the globe. It was reiterated that efforts need to be built up for their advocacy at all available government and non-government platforms so that justice that eludes them is made available to them without any hiccups.

There are many political elements in the UT who are raising the issue of statehood to the state at various intervals. The fact of the matter is that peace and normalcy in the UT and particularly in Kashmir valley has been held hostage to terrorism for the last four decades. The statements of political leaders suggest that the statehood could be granted back to J&K only when there was complete normalcy. The premier factor that could determine normalcy in the valley of Kashmir could be the return and resettlement of the exiled community as per their terms. No normalcy will be real without their safe and secure resettlement in the valley.

Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo in his presentation said that the demographic challenge in the J&K UT has become real. Once the issue of Article 370 and 35A was resolved in the year 2019, certain constitutional, political and administrative steps couldn’t be taken by the government that should have followed. Though Domicile laws and rules were framed afresh after the abrogation of Article 370 and the concept of PRC was also debunked for ever, but there was no follow up action taken by the government and the political class in the UT of J&K.

It has been often seen that the citizens living in J&K move to different states and UTs and they purchase properties there, form business houses, run estate businesses, establish colonies of their known and unknown people from J&K. It has to be a reciprocal process, efforts at social, political and administrative levels need to be taken to balance the demographic position in the entire UT of J&K. Islamic Terrorism could become a reality in the UT and especially in Kashmir valley only due to demographic imbalance.

The forced mass exodus and ethnic cleansing in the valley was the outcome of the demographic imbalance coupled with terrorism. Things need to be set right as the Prime Minister of the nation Narendra Modi also referred to meeting demographic challenges effectively throughout the country. Demographic imbalance is a permanent security threat to the nation in the areas where such positions take place. A large debate and action is required to set the narrative into motion in this regard as urgently as possible and we take a lead in this context.

-Kamal Bagati, General Secretary-PK