Mufti gives proposal for return & rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits

Time of India

3 days ago

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Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, on Monday handed over a proposal for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stating that no political process is complete without Kashmiri Pandits.Mufti said she has also sent a copy of her proposal to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This was the first formal meeting of the People's Democratic Party chief with the LG at Raj Bhawan in recent years. Mufti has proposed that the government should provide 0.5 kanal of land in their native districts to Kashmiri Pandit families, who want to return to Kashmir willingly. She also proposed that instead of nominating two Kashmiri Pandits to the J&K assembly, two assembly seats should be reserved for Kashmiri Pandits, from where they can be voted to the assembly by the common people."The issue of the dignified return and rehabilitation of our Kashmiri Pandit brethren goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience," said Mufti adding, "It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure and sustainable." She has suggested that the transfer policy of Kashmiri Pandits working in sensitive areas should be relaxed and there should be an annual 'return and reconnect' summit to start consistent inter community conversations.As per the Ministry of Home Affairs data presented in 2020, the number of displaced Kashmiri Pandit families had risen to 64,951, including 43,618 families in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 995 families in other states and Union Territories."Every political party in J&K, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return. This proposal emphasises an all-stakeholders approach, ensuring that any policy or plan pitched is rooted in empathy, mutual trust and most importantly, the on-ground realities."