‘Don’t think Kashmiri Panditswant to live here permanently

 

 

 

NATIONAL Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that displaced KashmiriPandits are alwayswelcome to return to their homes, emphasising theirrightful place in the Valley. However, he expressed scepticism about whether the migrated community would want to come back, considering they have built new lives where they currently reside in other parts of the country, with their children engaged in employment and education. The statement of the former Chief Minister came on a day when the displaced community is observing January 19 as‘holocaust day’ to mark their exodus from the Valley in 1990 due to threats and killings by Pakistansponsored terrorists.

 

Talking to reporters on thesidelines of a two-day party programme here, Abdullah notedthatmanyKashmiri Pandit familiesneverleft theValley andcontinue to live peacefully in theirvillages and localities. Meanwhile, BJP’sJ&K unit slammedAbdullah over hisremarks accusing himof trying to normalisea “historic crime” andevadepoliticalresponsibility for the exodusof the community. Former MLC andBJP spokespersonGirdhari LalRaina saidAbdullahhas no moral authority to speculate on the wishes of a community he failed to protect andthathis remarkswerean attempt to “absolve himself and the hisparty of historic guilt”.