Don’t Think Kashmiri Pandits Want To Live In Valley Permanently: Farooq Abdullah

Jammu, Jan 19: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that displaced Kashmiri Pandits are welcome to return to their homes in the Valley but expressed doubt over whether the community would want to live there permanently.

Speaking on the sidelines of a two-day party programme, the former chief minister said many Kashmiri Pandits have rebuilt their lives outside the Valley, with their children settled in jobs and educational institutions across the country. He made the remarks on a day when the displaced community observed January 19 as ‘holocaust day’ to mark their exodus from Kashmir in 1990 following threats and killings by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

Abdullah said several Kashmiri Pandit families never left the Valley and continue to live peacefully in their villages and localities. “When will they return? Who is stopping them? No one is preventing them. They should come back, as it is their home. Many Kashmiri Pandits are currently living in the Valley and have not left their villages,” he said while responding to questions about protests demanding return and rehabilitation.

On Sunday evening, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of ‘Youth 4 Panun Kashmir’ blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near the Jagti camp, demanding a separate homeland in the Valley for their return and seeking passage of a bill in Parliament to recognise their genocide.

Commenting on the demands, Abdullah said he had earlier assured the community that houses would be constructed for them and necessary support provided. He added that after the fall of his government, implementation of the proposal rested with the Centre.

He said the community would first have to assess the prevailing situation, noting that many displaced Pandits are now elderly, require medical care, and have children pursuing education elsewhere. “They may visit, but I don’t think they will return to live there permanently,” Abdullah said. (Agencies)