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The Hindu
7 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Farooq, Mehbooba, Karra join Pandit devotees at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir
Prominent Jammu and Kashmir leaders, including Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference (NC), Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Tariq Hameed Karra of the Congress, on Tuesday joined hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits in paying obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple on the occasion of Jyeshta Ashtami, amid the sense of unease and fear that was spread by the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Dr. Abdullah, accompanied by his senior party colleagues, drove to Ganderbal district in central Kashmir in the morning, and joined devotees at the temple. 'We took the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani. We are living in harmony; we will be living in harmony. We sent a message of happiness,' the NC president said. Mingling with the Pandit devotees, mainly those who fled the Kashmir Valley in the face of militancy in the 1990s, Dr. Abdullah prayed that the Kheer Bhawani Mela (fair) turn out to be a 'starting point for displaced brothers and sisters to return and settle down in Kashmir again'. 'Land and houses should be provided to Kashmiri Pandits. The government and the Centre should do the needful for their peaceful return. The situation is not the same as when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ensured employment for thousands of Kashmiri Pandits by offering them government jobs in Kashmir for their peaceful return,' Dr. Abdullah said. Claiming that there was a sense of fear among devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu after the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation, Dr. Abdullah appealed to people to visit the shrine. 'Don't fear. Visit the shrine,' he said. Ms. Mufti too joined the Pandit devotees in the visit to the shrine, and extended her wishes to the community on the occasion. She also paid floral tributes at the Kheer Bhawani temple pond, which is considered an auspicious ritual by the Pandit community. 'The PDP has always believed that guns or military interventions are not the solution. There should be a political process, that process cannot be completed until our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return with due respect and settle here,' the former J&K CM said. She said Kashmiri Pandits were an essential part of Kashmir. 'Pandits should return to Kashmir with dignity. They are an integral part of Kashmir. They have stakes in Kashmir,' Ms. Mufti said. Mr. Karra said the mela was 'a reflection of communal harmony, despite attempts to divide'. 'All communities stand united here. It is a reflection of the fact that Mahatma Gandhi also saw a ray of hope in Kashmir at the time of the Partition. Our [late] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh created a package that can still help in resolving the issues of Pandits, and ensuring their dignified return,' Mr. Karra said. The Kheer Bhawani Mela is the first major Hindu festival to take place in the Valley after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which left 26 civilians dead. The incident has cast its shadow on the fair, evident in the thin attendance when compared with 2024. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, however, termed the gathering a good omen. 'Devotees have come in large numbers to attend the Kheer Bhawani Mela. This is a good sign. This is the first time after April 22 that such a crowd has gathered at a place,' Mr. Sinha said. He said all the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which beings on July 3, were complete. 'Security arrangements have also been finalised. I appeal to devotees from across the country to come and take Baba's (Lord Shiva's) blessings,' Mr. Sinha added. Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, in a statement said an interfaith dialogue 'must evolve into a moral movement rooted in justice — because peace without justice is just a pause, no more'. 'I urged faith leaders to rise above nationalism, protect diversity, and uphold the moral duty of the majorities towards the minorities. From Palestine to Kashmir, only justice, dialogue, and mutual respect can bring lasting peace, and end human suffering,' he said.
United News of India
9 hours ago
- General
- United News of India
Kashmir incomplete without Pandits: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, June 3 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that Kashmir is incomplete without the Pandits and they have to play a role for any political process to be completed. She said this after visiting Tulmula in Ganderbal district to greet the Kashmiri Pandit community on the auspicious occasion of Zyesht Ashtami. She was accompanied by the party leadership. 'Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without them (Pandits). The PDP believes that Jammu and Kashmir issue cannot be solved with guns. There is no military solution, and the gun of militants is also not a solution. There should be a political process," she told reporters in Ganderbal. She said the political process is not possible until the Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return to the Kashmir valley. ' That political process cannot happen until our Kashmiri brothers and sisters come to Kashmir with due respect, settle here and play their role," she said On Monday Mehbooba held her first interaction in five years with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, with the Pandits' return and a safe Amarnath Yatra on top of her agenda. In her meeting with LG, she demanded that two Assembly seats should be reserved for Pandits, and every Pandit family should get half a kanal of free government land. UNI MJR
Mint
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Mehbooba Mufti seeks dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to Valley: ‘Time to remove blot on Muslims'
People's Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti has sought dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley while while batting for reservation in the assembly for the community. The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the reintegration of Kashmiri pandits must not be viewed merely as a symbolic return, but as an opportunity to build a shared, inclusive and forward-looking future for Jammu and Kashmir. Mehbooba called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan on 2 June. This was her first one-on-one meeting with the LG in about five years since the abrogation of Article 370. Mufti also submitted what she called an "inclusive and phased roadmap" to facilitate "meaningful progress" on the front. Mehbooba also submitted copies of the proposal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Quoting the date from Relief Office established by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, Mehbooba said 44,167 migrant families were officially registered as having fled the Valley due to security reasons in 1990s. Of these about 90 per cent (39,782) families were of Kashmiri pandits. By 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the number of displaced Kashmiri pandit families had risen to 64,951. In her proposal, Mehbooba said every displaced Kashmiri Pandit family should be allotted half-a-kanal (one kanal= 505.87 sq mt) of state land in their district of origin, contingent upon their willingness to return. The families whose original homes still exist, but are in dilapidated or semi-damaged condition, should be provided targeted financial grants or interest-free loans for structural repairs and modernisation, she added. She also demanded establishment of two reserved assembly constituencies for the community. "This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience. 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 said in the letter. Mehbooba said every political party in the union territory, irrespective of ideology, has consistently supported the idea of their return. "The shared pain of their displacement and the yearning for reconciliation bind us all in the belief that Kashmir can once again be a place where communities coexist peacefully. To facilitate meaningful progress on this front, an inclusive and phased roadmap has been attached for your consideration," she said. The PDP president said the 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. "I urge your office to initiate a dialogue driven process involving representatives from the community, civil society, local leaders and relevant administrative agencies. Only through inclusive deliberations can we chart a future where no community feels alienated in their own land," she added in the letter to the LG. Mehbooba described the mass displacement as one of the largest internal migrations in post-independence, which necessitates a comprehensive, justice-oriented and sustainable policy framework. "The return of Kashmiri Pandits is not merely a demographic or administrative concern but stands as a matter of historical justice, reconciliation and the restoration of Kashmir's pluralistic ethos," she said. The PDP chief said the return of displaced individuals must be anchored in a sense of security for government employees who play a critical role in rebuilding community confidence. She called for amending and strengthening the provisions under the Prime Minister's Special Rehabilitation Package to include a clearly defined, enforceable mechanism for the secure transfer and redeployment of Pandit employees. "Those posted in vulnerable or high-risk zones must be given the option to be transferred to safer, more stable areas without jeopardizing career progression or benefits," she said. Mehbooba called for holding an annual "Return & Reconnect" summit, bringing together displaced Kashmiri Pandit families, local communities, government officials, civil society organisations and academic experts. She also demanded appointment of dedicated officers in every district of the valley to serve as single-window facilitators for displaced families. 'It is time to work jointly to remove the blot on Kashmiri Muslims over their exodus from the valley,' she told reporters. Later, speaking to reporters here, she said no political process is complete without Kashmiri Pandits. "This is not just the responsibility of the government, but of the people and political parties," she said. The PDP chief also said that the return of KPs cannot be possible without empowering the community and it was the time to work jointly to 'remove the blot on Kashmiri Muslims over their exodus from the valley.' This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience.
Borneo Post
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Gawai Dayak: Tiong joins festive celebrations at longhouses in Bintulu
BINTULU (June 3): Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, together with his delegation from the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), celebrated the first day of Gawai Dayak by visiting six longhouses in Kemena and Suai. The six longhouses visited were Rumah Inggol Ak Ranggong, Rumah Changgai Ak Dali, Rumah Joe Ak Merudi, Rumah Clarence Ak Unjun, Rumah Ngalantar Ak Sengaling and Rumah Tulie Ak Aji. Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, described each visit as vibrant with tradition, music and heartfelt hospitality, which made the guests feel like part of the longhouse family. 'Gawai Dayak, while symbolising the harvest, also serves as a heartfelt reunion. Many Dayak individuals working or living in other regions return home to celebrate with family and friends. 'Visitors were treated to traditional delicacies, homemade tuak (rice wine), and langkau (distilled rice spirit), accompanied by the melodious sounds of the sape, a traditional Sarawakian lute that added to the captivating cultural ambiance,' he said. One of the highlights of the visit was the officiation of the Women's Bureau at Rumah Inggol. Throughout the journey, he also made time to engage directly with longhouse residents, listening attentively to the challenges they face, including issues related to livelihoods and daily living. He noted each concern and pledged to follow up on them, urging the community to maintain close contact with his team based in Bintulu for further collaboration and resolution. 'Despite my limited presence in the Bintulu office due to ministry commitments, I remain in constant communication with my officers to stay informed on local developments and issues,' he added. He emphasised that he would continue coordinating, following up, and making decisions to address concerns as efficiently as possible. 'This year's Gawai celebration was also made more special by the presence of friends from Peninsular Malaysia, especially those of Chinese descent who came to experience Sarawak's unique cultural festivities firsthand. 'It not only deepens understanding and mutual recognition between different regions but also fosters a harmonious coexistence of cultures. 'Additionally, it supports the growth of related sectors such as tourism, which contributes to national prosperity and economic progress,' he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mehbooba Mufti meets LG to press for Kashmiri Pandits' return
SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha Monday for the first time since abrogation of Article 370, handing him a memorandum for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. She demanded 0.12 acres of land for every displaced Kashmiri pandit family willing to come back to their district of origin and replacement of the current two-member nomination system in J&K assembly for the community with two reserved constituencies where their representatives would be directly elected. A 2020 Union home ministry document says 64,951 Kashmiri Pandit families have left the Valley. 'I met LG to discuss the return of Kashmiri pandits to the Valley with dignity and safety,' Mehbooba said after meeting Sinha at Raj Bhawan. She justified meeting with Sinha instead of CM Omar Abdullah, saying the National Conference (NC) govt had failed to deliver despite having a majority. As another example, Mehbooba cited a resolution in the assembly against the Centre's Waqf law revisions that she claimed was 'sabotaged' by the Omar-led govt. The PDP chief claimed she had written to the CM on the issue of Pandits but he didn't respond. Omar's party scoffed at the allegations and accused Mehbooba of 'getting close to BJP', which has long highlighted the plight of Pandits. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en General Rodríguez (ver precio) Verisure Undo 'The issue of rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits is not new. Why didn't she meet LG in the past five years?' NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq asked. Mehbooba argued that the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits was not only the responsibility of the elected govt but of other parties, too. '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,' the PDP chief said. The memorandum handed to the LG had also been mailed to CM Omar and Union home minister Amit Shah, Mehbooba said. The return of Pandits is not merely a demographic or administrative concern but a matter of historical justice, reconciliation and restoration of Kashmir's pluralistic ethos. According to the PDP chief, Pandit families whose original homes exist but are dilapidated or semi-damaged should be provided financial grants or interest-free loans for repairs. 'Reintegration must be both materially grounded and socially sustainable, requiring a multi-tiered and inclusive approach,' Mehbooba said. The PDP chief said she also took with the LG the issue of Kashmiri political prisoners, who do not face any serious charges, and sought their release.
