Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: The land in Kashmir for Kashmiri Pandits, has once again become the bone of contention as separatists have taken their daggers out and are opposing the Government’s plan to set up separate colonies for them within Valley of which, they are the indigenous people.
Taking serious exception to the statements of so-called JKLF chief, Yasin Malik and Hurriyat chief, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, NC president, Dr Farooq Abdullah and hardcore separatist, Ali Shah Geelani of JEI, KPC chief, Kundan Kashmiri today said that it once again made their intentions clear by opposing the Government’s plan to come up with separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits.
He said that separatists have been opposing the return of Kashmiri Pandits from the day one and KPC wants to inform the separatists that Kashmiri Pandits who used to live in Kashmir valley were forced to sell their properties under duress and for peanuts. “Even if they return they have no place to go. They would have to stay in the accommodation provided from the Government as they have no other choice’’, he added.
Kundan Kashmiri said that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee from the Valley in 1990 due to intimidation, threats and selective killings. “They left everything behind to save their lives. Entire community was displaced due to killings, fear and threat by the extremists and negative attitude of majority community of the Valley towards them.”
He further said that these separatists and others are responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley and they should be booked for it at the earliest. He made it clear that no one can stop Kashmiri Pandits from return to their homeland. “It’s our right to choose where we want to live. People like Yasin Malik, Geelani and Umar Farooq and others who opposed KPs return at consolidated place, have no right to interfere as Kashmir is not their fiefdom. People of Kashmir have realized that they were hoodwinked by separatists on the name of so—called Azadi or merger with Pakistan”, he added.
Kundan Kashmiri re-iterated that the separatists should beware of the fact that land in Kashmir is not their fiefdom and it belongs to Kashmiri Pandits first. Similar views were expressed by other KPC leaders, which include vice President, Tej Pandita, general secretary Dr. H.L.Saraf, vice president M.N..Raina, organizing Secretary Susheel Bhat, KPC youth leader S.K.Bhat and others.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) chief, Shadi Lal Pandita has also taken a dig at separatist leaders including Yasin Malik, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Umer Farooq for opposing township for Pandits or Sainik Colony in Valley.
Pandita said that Pandits have every right to live in Kashmir at the place of their choice as these are the members of majority community who rejected the composite culture by forcing the Pandits to leave Kashmir on gun point in 1989-90.
Pandita said that Government should not be cowed down by separatists’ statements and instead work for establishing the separate township within Valley for the community.
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