Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Citizens’ Forum Jammu has said that before finalizing any plans for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, the authorities should ascertain the real aspirations of the KPs who now for long have been living away from their homes and hearths.
In a statement, the Citizens’ Forum president R K Chadha asked the Governor Satya Pal Malik besides the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find out the aspirations of the KPs on their return to the Valley and said, “As far as KPs living in Jammu are concerned, they are our dear friends and Jammu has adopted and adjusted with them. Love and affection bond the KPs, who came here as migrants, with the locals. In my opinion we the Jammuites have no problem their getting settled here permanently.
He further said, “We have noticed some fringe elements have been hobnobbing with Hurriyat people and leaders of NC, PDP and BJP to demand the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley without giving a concrete plan of their security. In the name of giving an impression to the international community that we are ready to adjust Pandits with us in Kashmir, is a great deception. Those who are willing should go back but first the authorities must properly ascertain that among the all of them who and how many want to go back to the Valley.”
Chadha further said, “The voices over return of KPs are not out of the love for them but for the approximate fund of Rs 30000 crores which are to be spent on the rehabilitation program in Kashmir Valley. We have gone through this drama in 2002 when Late Mufti Mohd Sayeed as the Chief Minister, was offered a fund of Rs 10000 crores by Former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Bajpai for settlement of Kashmiri Pandits and Late Brig Gen Dhar and I was asked to prepare Pandits to come to Kashmir. No one had agreed then but the Government had started spending funds in Kashmir for constructing flats for them.”
Chadha urged the Governor to first prepare a complete list of Kashmiri Pandit families who want to go to Kashmir Valley so that they may not get double benefits at both the places.
Follow our WhatsApp channel