Latest news with #VivekTankha
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
KPs urge political parties to support bill on return of Kashmiri Hindus
Kashmiri Pandits welcomed the recommendation made by President Droupadi Murmu to a bill on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley and urged political parties to vote for and support the bill concerning the community's rehabilitation. President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. (HT File) President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Congress member Vivek Tankha on February 2, 2024, but required the President's recommendation as it involves financial implications. The bill will be taken up for voting in the Rajya Sabha in the current session. 'We welcome the recommendation of the President to the private member's bill on the return and rehabilitation of KPs in the Valley. It has rekindled hope among the community on the issue,' former Jammu Computer Dealers Association President Arvind Kumar said here. He further urged all political parties to come forward to support, vote for, and pass the bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Vivek Tankha. Similarly, businessman P L Koul also thanked the President. 'For the first time in Parliament, a private member's bill titled Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, has been recommended by the President for consideration in the House, subject to time constraints,' Tankha said in a post on X. Panun Kashmir rejects bill, calls it an attempt to subvert homeland demand Meanwhile, Panun Kashmir, an organisation advocating the cause of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, rejected the bill, saying it subverts the issues of 'genocide' and the demand for a homeland for the community in Kashmir. 'We strongly reject the Kashmiri Pandits bill currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. The bill is an attempt to derail the discourse on genocide recognition and to deflect attention from the foundational demands of the displaced community of carving out a homeland for them in the Valley,' a joint statement issued by the organisation said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kashmiri Pandits urge parties to back bill on return and rehabilitation
Kashmiri Pandits welcomed the recommendation made by President Droupadi Murmu to a bill on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley and urged political parties to vote for and support the bill concerning the community's rehabilitation. President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Congress member Vivek Tankha on February 2, 2024, but required the President's recommendation as it involves financial implications. The bill will be taken up for voting in the Rajya Sabha in the current session. Kashmiri Pandits have welcomed the President's recommendation and expressed their happiness over the move. "We welcome the recommendation of the President to the private member's bill on the return and rehabilitation of KPs in the Valley. It has rekindled hope among the community on the issue," former Jammu Computer Dealers Association President Arvind Kumar said here. He further urged all political parties to come forward to support, vote for, and pass the bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Vivek Tankha. Similarly, businessman P L Koul also thanked the President and Tankha for their role in facilitating the bill, now to be voted on by the Rajya Sabha. "We urge all political parties, including Congress and BJP, to vote for and support it. With folded hands, please honour our request for passing the bill," he said. "For the first time in Parliament, a private member's bill titled Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, has been recommended by the President for consideration in the House, subject to time constraints," Tankha said in a post on X. Apni Party youth leader and community activist Muktesh Yogi also expressed his gratitude to the President and the Congress MP for facilitating the bill for voting in the Rajya Sabha. "It is our wish to see this bill through. So we urge all MPs in the Rajya Sabha to vote for, support, and pass the bill," he said. Echoing similar sentiments, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) said, "This is a moment of great moral and constitutional significance. A Government Bill, backed by the Executive and introduced by a Union Minister, would ensure the full weight and urgency of national legislative intent, thereby enabling structured and enforceable mechanisms for justice, restitution, and return with dignity.
The Print
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Congress MP's private member's bill on rehabilitation of Kashmir Pandits cleared for consideration by RS
Two days ago, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to Tankha that the President has recommended the consideration of the bill, clearing the decks for a discussion on it, before it is passed. To be sure, only 14 private members' bills have been passed and enacted into law so far, the last one being in 1970. Tankha, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, said the bill, introduced in the Upper House in February 2024, needed a recommendation from the President of India—under Article 117(3) of the Constitution—to be taken up for consideration as it carries financial implications. New Delhi: Congress MP Vivek Tankha's private member's bill, which among other things seeks the restoration of temples connected with Kashmiri Pandits who were driven out of the Valley in 1990, can now be taken up for consideration in the Rajya Sabha with it having cleared a Constitutional requirement. 'For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled 'Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022' has been recommended by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. 'If discussed and approved, this can be a turning point in the fight for justice for Kashmiri Pandits. It's a big achievement as very few bills with financial implications get recommended by the Hon'ble President under clause (3) of Article 117 of the Constitution,' Tankha wrote on X Wednesday, attaching a screenshot of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat communique. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Act, 2022 also envisages grant of minority status to Kashmiri Pandits and declaration of members of the community as victims of genocide. When contacted, Tankha told ThePrint that he had first introduced the Bill in 2022. 'With my term ending in 2022, the Bill also lapsed. I introduced a fresh Bill again in my second term,' he said. Upon its enactment into a law, the Bill also proposes the release of a white paper 'documenting all events in the Kashmir valley pertaining to the atrocities and plight of the Kashmiri Pandits starting from the year 1988 till the enactment of this Act.' For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled "Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022" has been recommeded by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. .1/2 — Vivek Tankha (@VTankha) July 23, 2025 The bill has a separate section dealing with the restoration of temples and other heritage sites in the Valley. It says a committee comprising archaeologists, historians among others shall be authorised to appoint a Special Officer who will be armed with the power to seek documents from the government for 'conducting the survey of the religious sites' and 'shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1973.' Under clause 3 of Article 11 of the Constitution, a proposed legislation that entails 'expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration of the Bill.' 'In case the President withholds recommendation for introduction, the Bill cannot be introduced and if the recommendation is withheld under article 117(3) for consideration, the House cannot consider the Bill,' state the rules. A former Parliament official said that just because the bill now meets the Article 117(3) requirement does not guarantee that it will be taken up for discussion anytime soon as there is a draw of lots for that purpose. According to Parliament records, of over 2,000 private member's bills introduced since 1952, only 14 have become laws. These 14 bills include the Muslim Wakf Bill, 1952; The Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 1956; The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill 1970. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits are reviving old hometown temples. 'It's how we will return'
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Not one Kashmiri Pandit': Congress MP slams multi-party delegation on Op Sindoor
Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha on Sunday expressed his disappointment over the multi-party delegation put together by the government on Operation Sindoor not including any Kashmiri Pandits. He further alleged that the government had only chosen their favourite personalities of the delegations and stated that the Kashmiri Pandits were being treated like a forgotten species. Also Read: Congress slams Centre for picking only 1 of its 4 nominees in all-party delegation: 'Cheap political games' In a post on X, he said, 'The concept of sending 7 All Party delegations to world capitals is laudable. But unfortunately it reads like a long List of Govt favourites barring some exceptions!! The issue is 'J&K' but not one Kashmiri Pandit in the any of the 7 delegations. Looks (like) a forgotten specie(s)." "What is disturbing that KPs are neither part of PMO India list nor are part of the list of four forwarded by LOP!! In a Nationally represented delegation not one person fr(om) Madhya Pradesh. Must be an undeserving state," he added. Also Read: 59 leaders, 32 countries: All you need to know about India's Operation Sindoor delegations The Congress leader's criticism comes as a reaction to all-party delegations (seven consisting of members of different parties) set up by Union Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, to reach out to global allies regarding Pakistan's support of cross-border terrorism and India's zero-tolerance policy towards it. The list includes MPs from multiple parties, divided into seven groups of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned for each group, who will lead the delegation at a global level. Also Read: Tharoor to US, Sule to Qatar: Govt forms teams for global outreach to expose Pakistan Union minister Kiren Rijiju also highlighted how the Members of Parliament have shown a united stance of 'One mission. One message. One Bharat,' regarding India's support to Pakistan. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday expressed strong objection to the central government choosing only one party MP out its four nominations for the all party-delegations. He said that it was not "appropriate" to do politics, after the Central government selected members that were not recommended by Congress, most notably Shashi Tharoor. 'Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter and before 12 noon on the 16th May, we sent 4 names from our party for the all-party MPs delegation- Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Nasir Hussain and Raja Brar. The government had mischievous intentions from the beginning, they added 4 more names which were not in our list,' he said. He added, 'We know that Operation Sindoor is being politicised. But the Congress party believes that national interest is paramount. They have included only one name from our list, 4 more are our MPs, they are not representatives of the party, but they should listen to their conscience and not politicise it.'
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Not one Kashmiri Pandit": Congress' Vivek Tankha criticises multi-party delegation list
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): As India gears up to send an all-party delegation to visit key partner countries to highlight cross-border terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha on Sunday expressed strong reservations over the absence of representatives from Kashmiri Pandit community. Alleging that the government added its favourite personalities to the list of seven multi-party delegations, which aims to highlight the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that Kashmiri Pandits seem like a 'forgotten species'. 'The concept of sending 7 All Party delegations to world capitals is laudable. But unfortunately it reads like a long List of Govt favourites barring some exceptions!! The issue is 'J&K' but not one Kashmiri Pandit in the any of the 7 delegations. Looks (like) a forgotten specie(s),' Tankha posted on X. He further said that it was 'disturbing' that Kashmiri Pandits were not named under the list presented by either the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) or in the four names given by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. 'What is disturbing that KPs are neither part of PMO India list nor are part of the list of four forwarded by LOP!! In a Nationally represented delegation not one person fr(om) Madhya Pradesh. Must be an undeserving state,' he added. His reaction comes after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju released a list of an all-party delegation (divided into seven groups) set to visit key partner countries in an effort to expose Pakistan's support for terrorism and highlight India's policy of zero-tolerance on terrorism on the global stage. The list includes MPs from multiple parties, divided into seven groups of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned for each group, who will lead the delegation at a global level. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, while posting the list on Saturday, also highlighted how the Members of Parliament have shown a united stance of 'One mission. One message. One Bharat.' (ANI)
