Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 27: The BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav today said that the separatist groups in Kashmir are creating unnecessary controversy over the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
Speaking to reporters here, the BJP leader said: “It is unfortunate that the separatists groups in the Valley are trying to create a controversy out of an issue on which there always existed near unanimity of opinion in the Valley. I have myself heard hardline Hurriyat leaders including Geelani talking about Pandits as integral part of Kashmiriyat. So was the case with all the other Hurriyat factions.”
“But today for some very mysterious reason, they are trying to make this issue into a controversy. It is not good. Kashmiri Pandits are an integral part of the Kashmiri milieu. This has always been held up by all the people of this Valley. How can we bring them back is something that we need to discuss with the Pandit leadership”, he added.
Madhav said that in the Common Minimum Programme of the Coalition Government we have made commitment for the return and security of the Pandits. “Mufti Sayeed, when he was alive, as Chief Minister, he held one round of meeting with the Pandit leaders. I think after some time, at an appropriate time, the dialogue will continue and all the sections of Kashmir society will also be a part of the dialogue. It is important, we gave a commitment in our CMP that the Kashmiri Pandits have to be brought back to the Valley with honour but also with security”, he added.
The BJP leader said that the process of Sainik colony was started by previous government and expressed his surprise about controversy being created by Omar Abdullah. “Sainik Colony issue is an issue of the previous Government. It was at the Omar government’s time that some movement happened on this issue. An appropriate decision will be taken by the Government at an appropriate time. This process has begun when Omar was the Chief Minister. So, he knows it better. Why is he making it into a controversy now? In any case, the State Government only can respond on that issue”, he said.
On security forces operations against militants, BJP leader said these operations are on for last several year but our Government’s efforts are that no innocent is affected or killed in these operations.
Madhav said that the attitude of VC Jammu University towards the student organizations is not right and it is unacceptable. “Every right thinking person should oppose this attitude of banning students organizations in the campus. That is not acceptable. We have conveyed our strong opinion against his attitude to the people concerned in the Government. You all know that a University envoys autonomy. (But) he is definitely misusing his autonomy. If there are any problems with a particular activity, the organizations can be advised to make necessary amendments. But we should allow student organizations to carry on their activities in the campuses. You want students to raise anti-India slogans in JNU but you don’t want the students of Jammu University to say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. That kind of attitude by the VC is unacceptable”, he added.
Earlier, Madhav called on Chief Minister and discussed several issues.
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