We are committed to return of Kashmir pandits: Sayeed

When certain members raised the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, he said his government is committed on the issue so that the void created by their absence in the cultural milieu of Kashmir is removed.

Mufti Syeed  said his Government is determined to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits as part of the Kashmiri society and not as an
isolated community.

Pandit community provides diversity to the multi-religious ethos of Kashmiri society and the focus of the Government will be to bring them
back to their homes, he said.

Describing as misconstrued the impression being created by certain quarters regarding establishment of exclusive habitations, Mufti
Sayeed stated that the Government has not acquired any land for setting up any exclusive enclaves.

He said the Government does not favour any clusterization for return of Kashmiri Pandits but their complete reintegration as part of the
Kashmiri society. “Some Pandit organizations have also stated that a majority of the migrated community will feel vulnerable if they return
to the Valley and live in exclusive zones,” he added.

Urging all political parties to cooperate in facilitating return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, Mufti Sayeed said they are part and
parcel of the multi-religious society of Kashmir and their migration over two decades ago was a huge tragedy.

“Our emphasis will be on taking all confidence-building measures for their dignified return. We are only taking forward a process which was initiated by the previous Governments,” he said.

Describing Kashmir as a garden with flowers of all hues, the Chief Minister said it is the responsibility of all political parties to play a constructive role in facilitating the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.

“J&K has a history of cultural integration where Gandhiji found a ray of hope when the entire country was burning in communal frenzy in 1947,” he added.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)