New Delhi: Kashmiri pandits on March 12 rejected Jammu and Kashmir government's
plans to take the community members to two locations in the valley and asserted
that "there can be no dignified return till dignified talks" over the matter.
Seven major organisations reacted sharply to the statement of Deputy Prime Minister
L K Advani in Parliament that the government had earmarked Rs 10 crore for
resettling pandits at Kheer Bhavani and Mattan in Kashmir.
"This has confirmed the worst doubts of the displaced community," said a joint
statement issued by Kashmiri Samiti, All India Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Kashmiri
Pandit United Forum, Vichar Manch, All India Kashmiri Samaj, Displaced Employees
Forum and Kashmir Culture and Education Society.
"Any attempt to herd groups of displaced people to any part of Kashmir valley
without first ensuring adequate security of life and livelihood for them is fraught
with serious consequences," said the statement issued hours after Advani's remarks.
They alleged that the Mufti Sayeed government wanted to "condemn Kashmiri pandits to
a ghetto life" and felt that the move was aimed at "creating a gulf between the two
communities" in the valley.
PTI
