Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 31: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today described as “unfortunate” whatever has happened in past with Kashmiri Pandits as she made them a fervent appeal to visit the Valley so that their younger generations should see where their roots belonged to. She promised honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley with dignity saying it belongs to them as much as it does to any other community.
Again batting for talks with Pakistan, Mehbooba, however, said the talks can start from infiltration of militants and ceasefire violations due to which the people were suffering lot on the borders. She also called for reconciliation between all groups and communities in Jammu and Kashmir.
She was addressing a function organized by the Kashmiri Pandits in New Delhi, which was briefly disrupted by a Kashmiri Pandit, who alleged that the Pandits were being ignored by the State Government in the matter of relief, migrant certificates etc.
However, Mehbooba didn’t respond to the queries of the Kashmiri Pandit, who tried to disrupt the function, leading to commotion for a very brief period. The function went on.
“Kashmiri Pandits should visit Kashmir. Their younger generations should see where their roots belonged to. We will make all arrangements for their visits,” Mehbooba said in her address to the function.
Describing as “unfortunate” wh-atever has happened in the past with them (the Kashmiri Pand-its), the Chief Mi-nister said: “now we will have to move forward”.
She said the Government was committed to honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and it would provide all facilities to them.
“We are committed to the honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley with dignity. Kashmir belongs to them (the Kashmiri Pandits) as much as it does to any other community. They are an enduring symbol of Jammu and Kashmir’s composite culture and syncretic identity,” the Chief Minister said.
Reiterating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should talk to Pakistan just like Vajpayee Ji (former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee) did, Mehbooba, who has been making similar demand repeatedly, said the talks can begin at least from infiltration and ceasefire violations including why they (the Pakistan) are sending militants and resorting to ceasefire violations.
“There is trouble on the borders. Our people are suffering. The educational institutions are closed. Talks can resolve the issues and not war. Neither are we nor is Pakistan in a condition of fighting a war, both countries know now that if there will be a war nothing will be spared. Both the nations will just lose many things,” Mehbooba said, adding it was time for New Delhi to start dialogue with Pakistan to minimize sufferings of the people.
Calling for sustained process of reconciliation between all groups & communities in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister said: “in their peace lies the future of peace in J&K”.
In a brief chat with media after the function, Mehbooba said every political party has a right to align with any political front for the elections.
She was asked a question on National Conference tilting towards Third Front being floated by Trinamool Manila Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with like-minded parties and National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s inclination towards the front.
“In democracy, every party has a right to align with any Front,” she quipped.
Responding to another question on slow spending in Rs 80,068 crore worth Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), Mehbooba said the funds under the PMDP had to be released by the Centre Government.
“If there is timely release of funds, they would be utilized in time,” she said.
“Reconciliation is the mantra which we need to follow and therefore, I request Modi ji to engage with Pakistan,” she said.
“We need to take an assurance from the neighbouring country that they should not be allowing their soil to be used against India. After all, we all know that the key for peace is in Pakistan. They have been pushing terrorists into the State,” she said.
The Chief Minister said that efforts should be made for changing the slogan of “Azadi” in the Kashmir valley.
“This can be achieved. Why can’t Jammu and Kashmir be a gateway to the Central Asian countries?
“If the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) is a possibility, so can be this. If new roads are opened, the slogan of Azadi will automatically change,” she said at a gathering of around 200 Kashmiri Pandits, who had to leave their homes after the onset of the militancy in 1990.
She advised people not to watch debates on television channels which only foment hatred between the two warring nations as well as the Muslims of Kashmir and the rest of the country.
“Those, sitting in studios and pontificating the nation, are only interested in the TRP ratings and not finding solution to the problem.
“Many a times I wonder who are these people who talk so much on television? Are they even aware of the ground realities,” she asked.
Mehbooba said that every second day daggers are out and war hysteria is created.
“If a war had to happen, it would have in 2001 when the armies of the two nations were in an eye-ball-to-eye ball contact for over a year,” she said.
“War (between India and Pakistan) will not happen. After the attack on Parliament in 2001, the armies of both the countries (India and Pakistan) were deployed along borders for a year, if the war did not take place back then, it will not take place now as both the nations know it will be disastrous (for both),” she said.
She also appealed for reconciliation between the Kashmiri Muslims and Pandit community.
“I know you people had to leave your homes under difficult situations. You people have suffered but so do have those who are there in Kashmir.
“The gift of education has helped you (Pandits) in making a name for yourself but those in Kashmir are still trying to live a peaceful life,” the Chief Minister said and made an appeal to Kashmiri Pandits to visit the Valley.
“The Valley is incomplete without you. To begin with, please come as tourists and later if you feel so, you are most welcome to go back to your homes and stay there. I am not assuring you a roller coaster ride.
“Difficulties will be there but we together have to face these difficulties. Please do not wait for the last gun to fall silent,” she said.
The Chief Minister also apologized to the Kashmiri Pandits for delay in resolving their issues.
She also urged the Centre to talk with Pakistan so that the Kashmiri Pandits can visit Sharda Peeth in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A charter of demands, including health insurance, was submitted by the group of Kashmiri Pandits to the chief minister who assured that she will consider and act upon them.
Sharda Peeth, once regarded as a major centre of learning, is an abandoned Hindu temple located in Sharda village along the Neelam river near the Line of Control (LoC).
The Chief Minister said Kashmir without Kashmiri Pandits is as incomplete as are Kashmiri Pandits without Kashmir. She said the joint ethos and cultural moorings of Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits even the passage of time could not erase as these are something unique in the present day world.
Describing the plea for their return back to Kashmir as a call from motherland, Mehbooba told the gathering to respond to it as someone who responds to the cries of her mother in pain.
“You may say that many of you are now settled outside, some of them with good corporate packages. But I would say its a call from your motherland-Mouj Kashir-who asks you to come back and help in restoring back the social order which got disturbed with your unfortunate migration”, she said making an emotional appeal for their return.
“Don’t wait for the return of ideal conditions, we have to create these jointly”, she said. “Your Muslim brethren are fighting a situation there, come back and let us fight shoulder to shoulder”, she said adding while the members of Pandit community had to leave their homes unfortunately, their Muslim brethren suffered equally with deaths and destruction.
The Chief Minister said that though the successive Governments in Jammu & Kashmir did a lot for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrant community but it cannot match the return to their homes and hearths which, she said, is the earnest desire of every Kashmiri Muslim. She said her Government, acknowledging the role of Kashmiri Pandit families who stayed in Kashmir but got forgotten in the discourse, decided to reserve some posts for them in recruitment process so that they don’t feel left out.
Responding to the demands raised by several members of the community, Mehbooba Mufti said she would get the issues of difficulty in registration of migrants and their state subject issues looked into and if need be post an officer at New Delhi for the purpose. She also assured to look into the issues of medical insurance, hike in monthly relief and distant posting of some female staff at JK Bank New Delhi.
Former Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly and Vice President PDP, Muhammad Sartaj Madni also addressed the gathering and recalled the cherished relations between Muslims and Pandits in Kashmir. He also highlighted the need for frequent interactions between the members of two communities so that the bond of amity is shifted to younger generation.
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