Separatists creating controversy over Pandit issue unfortunate:BJP

Srinagar

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav today said displaced Kashmiri Pandits are an integral part of the Kashmiri milieu and questioned separatists in the Valley for creating a controversy over their return.

“It is unfortunate that the separatist groups in the Valley are trying to create a controversy out of an issue on which there always existed a near unanimity of opinion in the Valley. Kashmiri Pandits are an integral part of the Kashmiri milieu.

“I have myself heard hardline Hurriyat leaders including (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani talking about Pandits as integral part of Kashmiriyat. So was the case with all the other Hurriyat factions,” Madhav told reporters here.

The BJP general secretary was here for a meeting with senior state leaders of the party. He also met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti last evening.

Madhav said the state government would hold consultations with all sections of Kashmiri society, including Pandit leaders, for the return of the displaced community.

He said the government was committed to bringing back the Pandits with honour and security.

“We gave a commitment in our Common Minimum Programme that the Kashmiri Pandits have to be brought back to the Valley with honour and also with security,” he said.

He said the separatists were going against the interests of the people of the state by raking up issues on which there was no controversy.

“Tourism is in full swing and people are traveling to the state in hordes. It is the time when people here earn their livelihood and the separatists are giving bandhs and raking up issues on which there is no controversy at all, for example the Kashmiri Pandits issue. It is actually going against the interests of the people of the Valley, Madhav said. (MORE) SSB MIJ BSA RG

Madhav also talked about the controversial Sainik Colony issue, saying a decision would be taken by the government at an appropriate time.

“You see Sainik Colony issue is an issue of the previous government. It was in the Omar Abdullah government’s time that some movement happened on this issue. An appropriate decision will be taken by the government at an appropriate time,” he said.

The BJP leader also questioned why Omar was making it into an issue at this time.

Commenting on the rise of anti-militancy operations in the Valley, Madhav said it was necessary for preserving peace in the state.

“Action against militants has been happening in the state for several years now. Action against militants is necessary for preserving the peace in the state. But our government, both at the Centre and in the state, will ensure that no innocent is affected, no innocent is killed.”

Rajnath favours composite colonies for Kashmiri Pandits in JK

New Delhi

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today favoured creation of composite colonies for Kashmiri Pandits in their home state and even suggested having some Sikh and Muslim families in these dwellings.

“In presence of Mufti saab (former CM Mufti Mohammed Sayed), we had discussed and he said that Kashmiri Pandits will be provided land for rehabilitation.

“After him, we have talked to Mehbooba Mufti (J and K Chief Minister) and she too has agreed to the composite colonies (proposal). She said she too wants that Kashmiri Pandits come (to JK) and there is no problem in having composite colonies. If along with Pandits, some Sikhs and Muslims even live here then what is the problem?” he said in an interview to a news channel.

Talking to another channel, he said the situation has improved in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Stone pelting incidents which means incidents of stone throwing that used to happen, have declined by 50 per cent and as far as the question of rehabilitation is concerned we are moving in that direction. But we have to work in cooperation with the state government in this regard,” he said.

On the issue of raising of ISIS flags in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the terror group will not be able to have any influence in India.

He said fringe elements are raising flags in J-K.

“Jammu and Kahsmir was an integral part of India, it is and it will always remain so. Our policy is clear that both terror and talks cannot go together,” Singh said.

With a focus on rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants in the Valley, the Centre recently had asked the state government to share “complete details” of the land identified for the plan.

The state government had earlier this month informed the Centre that it had identified three areas for rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants especially 62,000 Kashmiri Pandit families who had to leave the Valley following the onset of militancy in early 1990s.

However, sources in Union Home Ministry had said the state government had not shared “complete details which included how much area, its surroundings and feasibility” of settling down the migrants.

The move comes notwithstanding the strike call given by separatists who are opposed to separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits.

The Narendra Modi government had kept the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants on top of its agenda and had sanctioned Rs 500 crore in its first budget itself.

The Agenda of Alliance, which is considered the backbone of the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, also mentions rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants in the Valley as part of their common minimum programme.

The state government has made it clear that there would not be any separate colonies for Kashmiri migrants but the proposed area will have a mix of population in the true spirit of Kashmiriyat.

PTI