Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 22: Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley was not possible till conducive atmosphere prevails there for it.
Addressing a migrant delegation led by NC Minority Cell president, M K Yogi which called on him at his Bhatindi residence here this afternoon, Dr Abdullah said as soon as situation becomes conducive in Kashmir valley the displaced Pandits will return on their own. He said the Pandits crave for return to the Valley but first the conditions should be created for the same. Till their return they should be provided all facilities outside including construction of quarters.
He said that he will take up this issue with the Home Minister and other authorities of Central Government. The former Chief Minster also assured the Kashmir Pandits that he will take up other issues highlighted by the delegation with the Union Government which included construction of 2000 quarters at Jammu for those displaced persons from Valley who are still residing in rented accommodations.
Dr Abdullah fully supported the demand of displaced Pandits regarding sanctioning of job package for them especially the unemployed engineers of the community in view of alarming rise in the unemployment among them after their mass exodus from Valley. The NC patriarch said the Government should take steps to solve the growing unemployment problem in the community.
He regretted that the Government has failed to provide adequate accommodations to the migrant PM package employees in Kashmir when the delegation informed him that the maximum quarters whose construction was started over five years back have not been still completed. He said the Government should take immediate steps in this regard.
Dr Abdullah said that people belonging to all communities are creation of one God and there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion or race.
He said that NC could not get any substitute among the Kashmiri Pandits after the demise of veteran KP leader, P L Handoo. “Pandits and Muslims in Kashmir had strong bonds for centuries together but some vested elements tried to divide us and create a wedge in the two communities”. He, however, expressed the optimism that they will not succeed in their designs as “We were one and remain one”.
Earlier over 70 people from various parties joined the NC and they were taken into party fold by Dr Abdullah. The Minority Cell leaders M K Yogi and Ashwani Bhat highlighted the problems of the displaced people before Dr Abdullah who is also MP from Srinagar constituency and appealed him to raise them before the Government.
They demanded that till the situation for return becomes conducive Government should construct 2000 quarters at Jammu, sanction job package for unemployed youth especially engineers, construct quarters at Srinagar for package employees and enhancement of cash relief.
NC provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta was also present during the joining programme. Dr Abdullah expressed the hope that new entrants will work for the strengthening of the party among the Pandits also.
Other Minority Cell leaders present in the meeting included Ashok Kumar Bali, Bal Krishan Bhat, Kaka Ji Bhan, Sumit Bhan, Amit Koul and Rattan Lal Malla.
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