Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: The Kashmiri Pandit Sabha Jammu in a meeting held under the chairmanship of K K Khosa, President, has appreciated the decision taken by the Omar Abdullah Government to carry out repairs and restoration work of heritage temples situated in the four districts of South Kashmir namely Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian.
“Most of these temples have undergone extensive damage during the past three decades due to widespread terrorism that prevailed in the valley. The decision to conduct this important repair work is a commendable step and indicates the noble and magnanimous intentions of the Government towards the minority Kashmiri Pandit community,” he said, in a statement, issued here today.
Khosa also suggested that while executing repair work, the caretakers should be associated to ensure quality restoration of the place. Moreover, it will also serve as an important confidence building measure, he added.
“The community appeals the UT Government to urgently think about formation of a robust return and rehabilitation policy in furtherance of its stated objectives in the party’s election manifesto. The community has been yearning to return to Kashmir at the earliest since the environment has become somewhat conducive after the near total eradication of terrorist activities. It has to be appreciated that return and rehabilitation cannot happen overnight and therefore the beginning of an engagement process with the stakeholders cannot brook any further procrastination or delay,” said Khosa.
Lamenting that already delay in this respect has proven disastrous for the distinct ethnic culture and identity of the Pandits, which has to be preserved at all costs, K K Khosa said that this can be guaranteed only once the community is resettled back in the valley with honour, dignity and full sense of security.
“While the Chief Minister is having pre-budget consultations with all stakeholders including legislators and DDCs for making provisions in the forthcoming state budget, in the absence of any representative belonging to the community who could have raised our issues, we request the UT Government to make provisions for the displaced community in anticipation of a robust return and rehabilitation policy which is required to be finalized immediately,” he said.
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