Sanjay Saraf-Led Delegation Meets MP Manoj Tiwari on Migrant Issues
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari Assures Full Support to Kashmiri Pandit Delegation on Ration Card Issues
New Delhi, January 18, 2024: Sanjay Saraf, senior leader of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), spokesperson for Salute India, and a prominent Kashmiri Pandit social and political activist, led a delegation of over 500 Kashmiri Pandits residing in Delhi to meet with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) from North East Delhi, Manoj Tiwari. The delegation, also including activists from the Jammu Kashmir Internal Displaced Welfare Society (JKIDWS), sought Tiwari’s support in addressing concerns regarding the addition and deletion of Kashmiri Pandit migrants from ration cards, in line with Jammu and Kashmir Relief Department regulations.
The meeting, described as the largest of its kind, took place at Tiwari’s Delhi residence. The Kashmiri Pandit delegation, under Saraf’s leadership, raised the issue of withheld relief and rations for Kashmiri migrants, urging Tiwari to assist in resolving these long-pending problems. They specifically requested intervention regarding the documentation required for adding or removing members from ration cards, citing demands for “unnecessary and unrealistic proofs” by authorities. Tiwari’s wife, Surabhi Tiwari, also attended the meeting, extending warmth and hospitality to the delegation.
In response, Tiwari, a three-time MP, cancelled a scheduled prime-time debate show appearance to address the concerns raised. He assured the delegation that he would raise the matter with the relevant authorities and work to ensure the acceptance of Aadhar cards and other existing documents held by Kashmiri migrants as sufficient proof. He further pledged to personally vouch for their identity if any additional documentation was required.
Tiwari emphasized his commitment to supporting the Kashmiri Pandit community, urging them to consider him their representative and assuring them of his availability for any assistance they might need.
Saraf expressed gratitude for Tiwari’s attentiveness and commitment to helping the community. He praised Tiwari’s courtesy and hospitality, expressing hope that the MP would act as a spokesperson for Kashmiri Pandits in Parliament, where they currently lack direct representation.
Saraf also cautioned against self-proclaimed community leaders who, he alleged, prioritize personal gain over genuine service, emphasizing that several such individuals have claimed to work for the community for 35 years without making a tangible impact.