Will bring back Pandits with dignity: Mehbooba

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today vowed to bring back Kashmiri Pandits “with dignity” to transit accommodation in the Valley.

“I will (Insha Allah) bring them back with honour and dignity,” she told the Assembly. “Our roots are in insaniyat…. the Pandits will come back and settle at their respective places. We must move step by step,” she said, adding that Muslims and Sikhs who had migrated owing to militancy would also be brought back.

The Chief Minister, speaking during the motion of thanks on the Governor’s Address, said the Pandits’ return was among the various issues dwelt upon by the Working Group. “They can stay in the transit accommodation till the time they feel safe to move elsewhere,” Mehbooba said, explaining that 50 per cent of the transit accommodation would be for migrants from other faiths. 

Arguing that it was not possible to send them straightaway to their respective places, the CM said, “When we are not sending our (political) workers to their villages, how can they (Pandits) be sent to their homes?.” 

She pointed out that her political workers, along with PSOs, were staying in hotels as the situation in far-flung areas was not yet safe. “Separatists, mainstream party members, those with the NC and the Congress are all part of Kashmiriyat,” she said.  

Earlier, during Question Hour, Education Minister, Naeem Akhtar said the “ultimate objective is to get back the Pandits to the Valley. This is our party (PDP) stand.” He was replying to supplementary questions by Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid on the financial assistance given to Kashmiri migrants in Jammu and at other places. 

“Pandits are a part of our culture and civilisation. The government has a plan for their return to the Valley,” Akhtar added.