Any political process in J&K is incomplete without participation of KPs: Mehbooba
Srinagar, June 2 (UNI) Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that any political process in Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without the participation of Kashmiri Pandit community.
The PDP chief on Monday met the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here at the Raj Bhawan.
Mufti, as per the Raj Bhawan spokesman, discussed various important matters including smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra and dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit Community in the valley.
Later, speaking to reporters here, Mufti said that any political process in Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without the participation of Kashmiri Pandits.
She said, 'those who want to return to the Kashmir Valley, must be given a piece of land in their respective districts for constructing one or two rooms, so that whenever they will start returning, interact with Muslim brothers.'
She also said that a proposal in the shape of a comprehensive document on rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley has been submitted to the LG Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and also to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
'We have also suggested that the Kashmiri Pandits employed in the Kashmir valley under the Prime Minister Employment Package, should not have a rigid transfer policy, so that they serve comfortably and without any fear,' she added.
Mehbooba Mufti also said that instead of nomination, two seats for KP candidates must be reserved from the Kashmir Valley as it will help in political empowerment, adding, 'every political party in Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of return of the community to the Valley.'
On Amarnath Yatra, she said, 'people of Kashmir wholeheartedly want to participate in the Yatra and play their role in facilitating the pilgrims.'
UNI VBH GNK
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
3 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Dakshina Kannada crackdown: Keep politics out
Two back-to-back murders in Dakshina Kannada, each laced with communal undertones, have finally jolted the government to action. Police officers are now cracking down on lumpen elements across communities – a much-needed move to restore order. The government has rightly overhauled the police top brass in Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring Udupi, signalling a firm resolve to address the escalating communal tensions. But even as law enforcement begins to act decisively, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje has chosen a troubling path. She has written to Justice N K Sudhindra Rao, chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, alleging police harassment of 'innocent' Hindu activists. A copy of the letter has also been marked to the National Human Rights fact finding committee on DK murders to submit interim report next complaint is both misplaced and misleading. As a constitutional authority, she should stand by the law, not those who flout it. The police have been doing their duty in a district teetering on the edge. Her letter, devoid of specifics, amounts to a blatant interference in the enforcement of law and order. The claim that GPS tracking is being used to target Hindutva activists holds no water – modern technology tools are legitimate instruments to track criminal suspects irrespective of their religious identity. Who exactly are these 'innocent' people she wants to shield? Many are known offenders. For instance, Suhas Shetty whose recent murder sparked outrage was a rowdy sheeter with two murder charges against him, all booked when BJP was in power. Karandlaje's portrayal of police action as one-sided is factually incorrect. The list of anti-social elements who the police propose to extern from the district includes those from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Such interference from a union minister not only undermines the police action to restore peace but also sends dangerous signals that political patronage can shield anti-social elements from the due process of law. The Prime Minister should take serious note of Minister seeks PCA, NHRC intervention over 'targeting' of Hindutva groups in Dakshina police must be allowed to continue their operations unhindered. They should act even against those occupying top positions if they engage in hate speech or incite violence. Politicians who poison the minds of the youth and use them as pawns for narrow electoral gains, while their children study abroad, should be held accountable. The state government must back the police not just with moral support, but with robust legal resources that ensure that these criminals don't get a reprieve from the court. The coastal districts need healing and that will happen only when politicians stop stoking fires, and allow the law to take its course.
NDTV
5 hours ago
- NDTV
'Good Start': National Conference On Kashmir Rail Link Inaugurated By PM Modi
Srinagar: Political parties, cutting across affiliations and ideologies, welcomed the Kashmir rail link on Friday, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hoping for a boost in trade and tourism in the valley. The ruling National Conference (NC) termed the rail link a good start. "It is a good start for us. It will help ease the difficulties we have faced in transportation, and tourism and other sectors," NC leader and MLA Pampore, Justice Hasnain Masoodi (retd), told reporters here. He also at the same time said the rights and constitutional guarantees of the people of J-K must also be honoured. "The train has chugged, but the promises also need to be kept. The old promises, made when we joined hands with them, should be honoured," the former Lok Sabha MP said, referring to the promises made with the people of J-K at the time of accession. "This vehicle can only move forward well when both of its tyres -- development and political aspirations -- run well. Then only can the whole nation benefit," he added. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the train to Kashmir, terming the project a culmination of what so many governments worked on and capped by the Modi government. "We welcome the train. The work had been on for the past 40 years, ever since Indira Gandhi started the Jammu-Udhampur railway link in 1983. All governments have worked on this project, and Modi has completed it. It was very difficult, but he has done it, and people are happy with it," Mufti said. Reacting to the prime minister's address in Katra, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said she was happy that Modi acknowledged the people's categorical denunciation of terrorism in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "I am also happy that Modi has acknowledged the stand taken by the people of Kashmir against terrorism after the Pahalgam attack. He appreciated Adil Shah, who laid down his life while saving a tourist. This is who Kashmiris are," she said. Another PDP leader and Pulwama MLA, Waheed Para, said the train straddled centuries of separation. "As train now reaches the soul of Kashmir crossing not just mountains, but centuries of silence and separation. The Chenab Bridge is more than steel; it is healing in motion, and a long-awaited vision made real," Para said on X. He said Kashmir's future lies not in "isolation", but "in becoming a gateway as (Sufi saint) Shah-e-Hamdan (Mir Syed Ali Hamdani) once walked paths that linked this land to Central Asia. "Let all roads converge here. Through Kashmir, India opens its gates to the region, and to the world. No longer be the edge, Kashmir is the bridge to South and Central Asia," he said. The J-K unit of BJP described the completion of the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link as a "historic moment", and called the project a "precious Eid gift" for the people of the Union Territory. "The Udhampur-Baramulla railway connectivity is not just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of hope, development, and national integration. This is truly a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir," BJP's J-K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said. He said, "This is yet another testament to PM Modi's unwavering commitment to the development and progress of J-K." Thakur hailed the project as one of the most significant infrastructure achievements in recent times and said it will benefit everyone, especially those from the far-flung and economically weaker regions. Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also welcomed the railway link. He, however, also asked the prime minister to release political prisoners from J-K if he sincerely sought to reduce the mistrust. Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid here, the Mirwaiz said all prisoners, including political leadership, remain in the prayers and thoughts of the people. The government of India should, as a goodwill gesture, release these prisoners on the occasion of Eid, he said. "If the prime minister truly seeks to reduce the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) which he often mentions in his speeches, then such humanitarian steps are the real way forward. Train links are welcome, but it is the human links that truly matter and endure," the Mirwaiz said.
United News of India
5 hours ago
- United News of India
Train connectivity to transform tourism, boost trade, improve mobility: J&K CM
Katra (J&K) June 6 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday hailed the rail-link of Kashmir with the rest of the country as a 'historic accomplishment,' stating that the development will boost tourism, trade, and bring comfort in the daily lives of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a large gathering at Katra during the inauguration of the Chenab and Anji Bridges and at the flagging off ceremony of the Vande Bharat Train to Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah highlighted the difficulties faced by people during inclement weather when highway closures lead to exorbitant airfares. This marks Kashmir's first all-weather railway connectivity with the rest of India. Also present on the occasion were Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union MoS PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, and other dignitaries. 'The benefits to Jammu and Kashmir will be substantial. Tourism will receive a major boost, and the daily lives of our residents will improve,' the Chief Minister said. 'With this railway line operational, that hardship will be alleviated to a great extent, offering affordable and reliable transportation,' he noted. Speaking about the economic benefits, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of better market access for the region's horticultural produce. 'Our apples, cherries, and other fruit will now find faster and more easy access to markets across the country and even globally. This will provide a significant economic benefit to our growers and traders,' he said. Lauding Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the Chief Minister said that the successful completion of this critical infrastructure project stands as a testament to the Centre's commitment to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. 'Under PM Modi's stewardship, yet another critical infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir has been completed. We are also witnessing rapid progress on other vital initiatives — the Jammu Ring Road, the Srinagar Ring Road, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, the four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, and the expansion of both the Jammu and Srinagar airports and the railway network,' he said. The Chief Minister expressed hope that with the Prime Minister's continued support, Jammu and Kashmir will soon regain its status as a full-fledged state. 'Today marks yet another momentous occasion. With your leadership and support, we look forward to Jammu & Kashmir regaining its status as a full-fledged state,' he said. Reflecting on his tryst with key milestones in J&K's rail history, Omar Abdullah recalled his presence at the inauguration of the Anantnag Railway Station, the Banihal Railway Tunnel, and his government's final event at the same venue with PM Modi in 2014. 'You may call it fate, or perhaps destiny, but I have always had the good fortune of being present at key milestones in Jammu and Kashmir's railway journey,' he said. He also recalled that the dream of connecting Kashmir via railway dates back to colonial times. 'Even during British rule, plans were envisioned — such as the proposed Uri and Jhelum railway lines — but they remained unfulfilled. What the British could not achieve, you have made a reality. You have connected Kashmir with the rest of India and, through it, to the wider world. This is a historic accomplishment,' he said. Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he credited him for being the first to recognize the rail network to Kashmir as a project of national importance. 'This progress owes much to the vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, who declared this railway line a project of national importance. Since then, the project has seen consistent progress and budgetary prioritization,' he said. Reaffirming his government's commitment to development, the Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to fulfill the vision of a prosperous region. 'Our government remains committed to the vision of 'Viksit Jammu Kashmir, Viksit Bharat' — a developed Jammu and Kashmir, a developed India — and we are determined to realize this goal for the people of our region.' Concluding his remarks, the Chief Minister extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 'On this historic day, on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to you, Prime Minister. Thank you for your unwavering support and for helping turn decades-old dreams into reality.' UNI VBH BD
