Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections: Hindu Refugees Vote For First Time

In the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections, parties like the National Conference and PDP have included the restoration of Article 370 in their manifestos. However, around 5,700 Hindu families in this Union Territory, mostly Dalit or Scheduled Caste (SC), have never been allowed to vote due to Article 370. This election marks their first opportunity to participate in voting.

The Hindu families in question are originally refugees from West Pakistan. Their ancestors fled to India during the 1947 partition to escape violence and preserve their dignity. The abrogation of Article 370 has now granted them the chance to vote for the first time.

These refugees will cast their votes on October 1, as reported by TOI. Many of these Hindu refugees, who came from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) or Sialkot, reside in 39 slums near Jammu. They will participate in the final phase of voting, an opportunity made possible by their new permanent residency status following the removal of Article 370's special provisions.

Two Assembly seats have been reserved for Pakistani refugees. Additionally, the central government has allocated two seats for migrants in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, where it will nominate members. Labhu Ram, president of the West Pakistan Refugee Action Committee, expressed excitement: "The day of voting will be like a festival for us."

To celebrate this significant occasion, these families plan to enjoy traditional foods like poori-halwa and laddoos on voting day.

Des Raj, a resident of a refugee camp in Jammu, shared his thoughts: "The repeal (of Article 370) has brought a big change in our political status and finally we have got an opportunity to be part of the electoral process. Until now, we were treated as second-class citizens. Those who claim to protect democratic institutions have deprived us of this basic democratic right."

Many Hindu refugees were displaced from PoK in 1947 or fled from Sialkot near Jammu's border. In the 1960s, they received land in Jammu but couldn't own it due to Article 370 restrictions. This prevented them from accessing government housing schemes or securing bank loans against that land.

This year marked a turning point as these Hindus received land ownership rights on August 2. The Jammu & Kashmir administration granted them ownership where their ancestors had been allocated land decades ago.

Most refugees from Sialkot settled in Kathua and RS Pura areas or Jammu itself. Some also moved to Delhi, Punjab, and other states. Historians note that Jammu was a convenient destination due to its road and rail connections with Sialkot and cultural similarities.

The changes brought about by the abrogation of Article 370 have significantly impacted these families' lives. They can now participate fully in democratic processes and enjoy rights previously denied to them. This election represents a new chapter for these communities as they exercise their right to vote for the first time.