The Kashmiri Pandits have decided to boycott and not fill the “objectionable” form that the Jammu-based relief department has issued for those intending to proceed for the annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Kheer Bhawani in Kashmir.

The content of the form has “hurt” the sentiments of Kashmiri Pandits, who claim it was for the first time after their migration from the valley 29 years ago that they were being asked to seek permission for undertaking the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage for the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district of Kashmir will begin from Jammu on 19 June, while pilgrimage for Tikker in Kupwara and Manzgam in the Kulgam district will leave Jammu a day earlier on 18 June. The pilgrims will return from Kashmir on 20 June.

Chairman of the Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra Committee Kiram Wattal said that the text of the form issued by the Deputy Commissioner of relief department has hurt the Kashmiri Pandit community, therefore they have decided not to fill the form.

Wattal said that details of the intending pilgrims have been sought in a way as if they were foreigners, while adding that even domestic tourists are not supposed to fill such forms.

Wattal said that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had last year personally supervised arrangements for the Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims but the relief department has this time triggered an unnecessary controversy by issuing the form.

Another Kashmiri Pandit leader, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President of the Panun Kashmir, said the form issued by the government is simply callously drafted.

Pandits neither need permission nor any invitation to visit their places of worship in Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits have a relationship with the land of Kashmir and therefore the government is supposed to facilitate the Yatra. The idea of permit or approval for the yatra is completely unacceptable and is hence rejected, he added.

Meanwhile, the Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala has also criticised the J-K government on the issue and tweeted; “The opportunistic alliance of the BJP-PDP now passes an order for the Kashmiri Pandits to obtain a permission to visit their places of worship? This is negating the Constitution. BJP which projects itself as self proclaimed champion of Kashmiri Pandits,clearly backstabs them! “.

The opportunistic alliance of the BJP-PDP now passes an order for the Kashmiri Pandits to obtain a permission to visit their places of worship?

This is negating the Constitution. BJP which projects itself as self proclaimed champion of Kashmiri Pandits,clearly backstabs them! pic.twitter.com/ppRUBJ5bbM

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 14, 2018