No separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits: Govt

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 19

Under pressure from various separatist factions against the proposed move to provide land to non-state subjects and establish composite colonies for Kashmiri Pandits, the state government today said it won’t establish separate colonies for migrant Pandits in the Valley.

“There will be no exclusive colonies for Pandits. They have to come and live with the majority community. They (colonies) are not in our agenda,” Minister for Education Naeem Akhter said.

He said the government had the concern to settle the community in Kashmir. “We have not identified land for these colonies. We will bring them back in a dignified manner to Kashmir,” Akhter said.

While pointing to separatists, who have threatened a 2008-type agitation in Kashmir, he said, “Our friends and elders have said they will create a situation of 2008 here. Is this the solution.”

He said, “There are shades of positives in it as it has brought you (separatists) together. They are talking of things which are our concern too.”

Separatists were seen getting united in the past few days against the PDP-BJP government’s proposal to provide land to non-state subjects for various purposes in the state.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik on Thursday attended a meeting of Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference at his Hyderpora residence and issued a joint statement saying any attempt to establish Sainik Colony, construct shelters for non-state subject labourers, composite townships for Kashmiri migrant Hindus and implementation of new industrial policy will be over their bodies.

Akhter said all the mainstream parties had maintained that constitutional special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the India Union was non-negotiable.

“We, the National Conference, the Congress and even the BJP have said specials status is non-negotiable. It is time to rejoice that there is a consensus. Our objective is same as that of Geelani that where will Pandits reside after their return,” he said.

Akhter said they had not identified land for a composite township for Kashmiri Pandits. “We will make land available where both Pandits and Dogras can live peacefully. If you have any alternative to it, we will consider it,” he said.

He urged separatists, mainstream politicians and civil society to inform the government how to bring back Pandits with dignity and honour.

On new Industrial policy, he said the government had decided to review the policy and remove the controversial clause from it. The government reiterated that it won’t establish Sainik colony for ex-servicemen, who had served in Kashmir in the past over two decades.