Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: A day after the Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on the return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir valley, the State Legislative Council also accorded passage to a unanimous resolution on the subject, seeking conducive atmosphere for the return of displaced community in dignified manner to their homes.
As the Upper House of the State Legislature commenced its business with the ‘Question Hour’ today, the National Conference member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri raised the issue about the resolution, unanimously passed by the Lower House on Thursday with regard to the return of KPs to Valley.
The State Assembly had passed the resolution for creating a conducive atmosphere for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, with the State Government asserting it will go ahead with the proposal of setting up transit camps for the displaced community which is being strongly opposed by separatists and some mainstream groups.
Minister for Education Naeem Akhter, who is also Leader of the House (LC) also strongly favoured the passage of resolution unanimously and said he strongly believed that Kashmir today needs displaced Pandits back to restore the composite culture of Kashmir.
” This is very important issue and we want to send a message from this House to them as a message in this regard has already been sent from the Lower House,” Naeem told the Upper House.
While describing Kashmiri Pandits as inseparable part of Kashmir, the Minister said they have reached to different parts of the world and some are on the top position in the Corporate sector, but Kashmir is feeling a huge vaccum due to their absence.
Referring to the migration of this community during early 1990s, Naeem said, ” I do not want to go into the details how it happened or who were the people behind but it is true that departure of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley was not a mere migration, but it was an end of a civilization. If we have to restore that civilization and composite culture back in Kashmir, we have to bring back Kashmiri Pandits to Valley with dignity and honour for which our doors and hearts are always open,” Naeem maintained.
“But the process of their return should not be restricted to sloganeering alone. Whenever we tried to give practical shape to their return, unfortunately what has happened last year is before all of us,” Naeem added.
He referred to the role of opposition from the separatists and some mainstream groups in Kashmir against setting up of transit accommodation for Kashmiri Pandits as part of their return to the Valley.
Naeem said the Government should talk to the representatives of this community in this regard. Displaced Pandits should come back to Kashmir and “restore the composite culture in the Valley,” he said.
Later, the Chairman of the Council passed the resolution unanimously by voice vote.
Meanwhile, BJP MLC Surinder Ambardar representing the displaced community in the Upper House said that it is a welcome step towards creation of suitable conditions and secure environment apart from confidence building measure for the return of Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley.
“We welcome this step but at the same time there is need to talk to the leadership of the community,” Ambardar said.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel