New Delhi: Asserting Kashmiri pandits living in camps in Jammu or in Delhi will not
be forced to return to the valley, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on March 12 told
Rajya Sabha that two places in Kashmir have been identified for rehabilitating the
migrants.
He, however, said the Kashmiri migrants are still not convinced about their safety
in the valley.
Earlier, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah warned that
Kashmiri pandits would not be safe in the valley and al-Qaida and other militant
groups would be after them.
This, he said, would lead to communal problem in the country.
Advani said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for
rehabilitating the migrants in Mattan and Kheer Bhawani shrine places in the valley.
"The yardstick for their return will be safety," Advani said, adding the migrants
were living in a pitiable condition in camps.
Even earlier when Kashmiri pandits were asked whether they were prepared to move to
the valley, they had expressed their apprehensions till a conducive climate is
created, he said, adding the purpose would not be served unless they felt reassured
about their safety.
In reply to a query from Karan Singh (Congress), Advani said it was natural when the
migrants were being rehabilitated they would be provided employment opportunities in
those places.
"I do not think conditions are conducive enough for these people to go
back," Abdullah said, adding government's plan to set up two colonies would
not solve the problem.
The government had to provide adequate security to them, he said.
"They will become the target of al-Qaida and other movements," he said,
adding the fallout of any attack would be felt in other places of the
country.
Advani assured Abdullah that "nobody will be pushed any where", adding the
migrants still did not feel they were safe in the valley.
He said the proposal will be implemented only with the consent of Kashmiri
pandits and other migrants.
"Unless they (migrants) are convinced, the plan will not succeed," Advani
said, adding even earlier they did not feel safe when such a proposal was
mooted.
Advani said though the people were living in pitiable conditions in the
camps, they would have to feel assured that jobs would be provided to them
in new locations, he said.
PTI
