Jammu, Jan 19: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that displaced Kashmiri Pandits are always welcome to return to their homes, emphasizing their rightful place in the Valley.
However, he expressed doubt over whether the community would choose to come back, noting that many Pandit families have built new lives elsewhere in India, with their children engaged in education and employment.
Abdullah’s remarks came on a day when the displaced community observes January 19 as ‘Holocaust Day,’ marking their exodus from the Valley in 1990 due to threats and killings by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day party program in Jammu, Abdullah noted that many Kashmiri Pandit families never left the Valley and continue to live peacefully in their villages and localities.
“When will they return? Who is stopping them? No one is preventing them. They should come back, as it is their home. Many Kashmiri Pandits are currently living in the Valley and have not left their villages,” the former chief minister said when asked about recent protests by Pandits demanding return and rehabilitation.
Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits, under the banner of ‘Youth 4 Panun Kashmir,’ blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jagti camp on Sunday evening. They demanded a separate homeland in the Valley and called for the passage of a bill in Parliament recognizing their genocide.
When asked about the community’s demands, Abdullah said he had assured them that the government would construct houses and provide necessary support. He added that after his government’s tenure ended, implementation of the proposal became the responsibility of the Central government.
He noted that the community would first need to assess the situation, as many Pandits are now settled across different parts of the country.
“They have grown older; many are seeking medical treatment, and their children are studying in colleges, schools, and universities. They may visit, but I don’t think they will return to live there permanently,” he said. (Agencies)
