STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) has expressed anguish over insensitive and shocking statement of Union Minister for Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi regarding return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits back in valley. She has said that the community is free to return and resettle wherever they feel like, as there is no bar under the constitution for any citizen to live at a place of their choice.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, President of Sabha, K K Khosa said that the minister seems to be suffering from amnesia, as she has forgotten that entire Kashmiri Pandit community was forced to flee from their ancestral habitat due to persecution and genocide. “Kashmiri Pandit community left behind all properties, lands and orchards only to save their lives and honour, most of which have been encroached or destroyed. Her insensitivity and feigned ignorance is surely a matter of concern in view of repeated assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit shah and LG Manoj Sinha that a robust policy for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, will be formulated in consultation with the community leadership at the earliest,” he added.
The KPS President urged top leadership of BJP to direct the minister to tender unconditional apology for the hurt she has caused to community, which is living in exile for the last 32 years and whose resettlement back in valley is primary responsibility of both, the Government of India and UT administration.