The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, 3 September called on the government to identify those responsible for the latest round of threats against Kashmiri Pandits, even as the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI) raised doubts about whether the threats were genuine, warning they could be exploited for political purposes.

Background: Letters Targeting Kashmiri Pandit Employees

The political reactions followed the circulation of two letters purportedly issued by the United Liberation Council (UCL), which targeted Kashmiri Pandit employees and disclosed their personal details. The letters reignited a long-running debate over the safety and rehabilitation of a community displaced from the Kashmir Valley over 36 years ago.

PDP Calls for Accountability

PDP spokesperson Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo said the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits was a broadly shared aspiration across political lines. 'The people, political parties, and political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir want the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to be made possible. This is everyone's wish. If there are any obstacles to this, those need to be looked into. We need to identify who these people or agencies are that are preventing their return, as this is dangerous for Jammu and Kashmir,' he said.

Congress and CPI Question Authenticity

CPI MP P. Santhosh Kumar said the first question was whether the threats were real. 'Whether these fresh threats are genuine or not, that is all the more important,' he said, adding: 'If it is genuine, of course, we are with the Kashmiri Pandits and each and every citizen of Kashmir, India. Kashmiris are very much Indians. So, we stand with Indians. But at the same time, whether this is genuine or not, that is to be examined properly.'

Congress leader Rakesh Sinha alleged the threats were being used to create an atmosphere designed to prevent the Centre from restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre of 'attacking the federal structure.' Congress MP Manoj Kumar questioned why action had not been taken and alleged: 'Time and again this issue is brought to the forefront to make political gains. This should not happen. It is extremely unfortunate.'

BJP Hits Back at National Conference

Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur turned his fire on the National Conference after party president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah questioned why Kashmiri Pandit employees were receiving threat letters while senior Hindu officers posted in Jammu and Kashmir were not. 'The National Conference's line is one of soft separatism. In one way or another, they are giving Pakistan a clean chit. This has been the policy of the National Conference. The threats being issued to Kashmiri Pandits, now for the fourth time, are a very serious matter. This is a concern for the agencies as well as the Kashmiri Pandits,' Thakur said.

Community Voice: 'We Are Being Treated Like a Football'

Kashmiri Pandit Bhushan Lal said the community felt it was being treated like a 'football — as if we can be kicked from one side to another.' He asked: 'We are residents of this place. Why do we receive notices every day telling us to leave? What have we done? Is this not our motherland? Are we not citizens of this country? Are we not residents of this democratic country? What crime have we committed? Is being a Kashmiri Pandit our only fault? It seems it is our misfortune that we were born in Kashmir.' He added that it had been 36 years since the community was displaced from its own land.

With political parties divided along predictable lines and the community expressing anguish, the question of who issued the UCL letters — and whether security agencies will act — remains unanswered.