‘Kashmiri Pandits used for political gain, neither PM nor Home Minister visit their camps even once’: BJP leader’s grievance against own party

The BJP leader said that the community's trauma has been exacerbated by the failure to ensure their safe return to Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi: Disgruntled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jahanzaib Sirwal on Sunday, October 19, 2025, accused the party of using displaced Kashmiri Pandits for ‘political gain’ and called on the party leadership to take meaningful steps to address the ‘long-standing injustice’ against the community.

Joined BJP after leaving Congress

Sirwal, who joined the BJP in April last year, said, “This community has been the BJP’s most steadfast campaigner, yet its role has neither been recognised nor acknowledged. The BJP leadership has mentioned their suffering more than 500 times in Parliament for political gain and has used it as a weapon against every political opponent.”

He said, “I call on the party leadership to take decisive and meaningful steps to address the long-standing injustice to the Kashmiri Pandit community. They deserve more than token steps or repeated mentions in parliamentary debates.”

Had threatened to resign from BJP

Sirwal had earlier threatened to resign from the party on October 3, citing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “unacceptable” remarks against Muslims and the state police’s “vindictive” attitude towards the minority community.

The BJP leader said the leadership should prioritise policies that ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, restore their rights, and provide them with the security and opportunities they have long been deprived of.

Sirwal said in a statement, “They deserve concrete action. This should begin with senior leaders visiting their camps to witness their struggle firsthand. Thereafter, a comprehensive roadmap for their dignified rehabilitation should be developed through inclusive consultations with community representatives, including some party members.”

‘Modi-Shah did not visit even once’

He said the plight of the community is a matter of serious concern and requires immediate attention and action. Sirwal said it is “extremely unfortunate” that the top leadership, including the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, has not visited their camps even once and witnessed their deplorable conditions.

He said the camps lack proper housing, healthcare, and opportunities for economic and social upliftment, and that these camps reflect a “failure to address a humanitarian crisis that has persisted for more than three decades.”

‘Safe return to Jammu and Kashmir’

The BJP leader said that the community’s trauma has been exacerbated by the failure to ensure their safe return to Jammu and Kashmir and the lack of honest dialogue or concrete plans for rehabilitation. He said, “This neglect is not only disrespectful to the community that has stood with the party during immense hardships but also undermines the principles of justice, inclusiveness, and compassion that the BJP claims to uphold.”