Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Maintaining that Kashmiri Pandits are in minority in the State of J&K, president Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) Shadi Lal Pandita today demanded that the community be given minority status.
Talking to reporters here he also demanded that Kashmiri Pandits be given reservation in State Legislature and Parliament for their empowerment.
Holding Hurriyat Conference and other separatist organizations responsible for the mass exodus of Pandits from Valley in 1989-90, he said that community has suffered a heavy loss in last 26 years as they could not cultivate their land and orchards. Besides their standing fruit and non fruit trees were cut by the anti social elements over these years putting the community to heavy loss.
He demanded that the community be provided compensation for this loss at the rate of Rs 50 lakh per family besides the monthly cash relief be enhanced at an earliest.
Lambasting the Hurriyat and other parties for opposing the return of Pandits to Valley, Pandita said that separatists can’t dictate terms in this regard and the Pandits being the aborigines of Kashmir will return on their terms and conditions.
He while ridiculing the separatist for opposing the composite township in Valley said that Muslims from Kashmir who also migrated during the mass exodus have been allotted quarters in migrant camps in Jammu and when Pandits can live in peace with them why separatists and other parties are afraid of settling the community in a composite township proposed to be established in Valley for rehabilitation of militancy victims.
He said the JTC will hold a protest rally tomorrow against Hurriyat and other parties opposing the return of Pandits to Valley.
Rattan Lal Bhat, Rajinder Dhar, Inder Ji Labroo, Ramesh Bhat, Vijay Pandita and others were present in press conference.
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