Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday pitched for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, asserting that the displaced community cannot be treated at par with others and deserves all facilities extended to migrants.
“Kashmiri Pandits are migrants. You cannot treat them at par with other people. You have to give them all the facilities that migrants should get,” Mufti said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president urged the community to move beyond the past and focus on the future. “We want our Kashmiri brothers and sisters to forget what happened in the past. We want them to look ahead and look to the future,” she said.
Highlighting the contribution of Pandit doctors, Mehbooba Mufti cited the examples of Dr Sushil Rajdhan and Dr Sameer Koul, saying they remained deeply connected to Kashmir. “I believe that young doctors like Dr Sameer Koul and Dr Sushil Rajdhan should come to Kashmir and connect with the people here,” she added.
The PDP leader also drew attention to the plight of Pandits residing in Jammu and other areas, terming their conditions “very difficult.”
Mufti said her party had submitted proposals to the Governor, including the construction of a temple and the formation of a dedicated board for the community’s welfare. “The biggest thing is that the treatment should be maintained. We should not look back. We should look forward,” she said.
Cautioning against any attempt to use the Kashmiri Pandit community as “weapons”, she advised them to establish direct contact with the local populace. “The people who want to use the Kashmiri Pandits as weapons, the Kashmiri Pandits should be scared of them. And they should make direct contact with the Kashmiris,” she said. (KNS)
