AIKS to raise restoration of rights to Pandits at Feb 25 conclav

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) today said it will raise the issue of restoring of constitutionally guaranteed political, social and economic rights to the displaced community during the February 25 Kashmir conclave, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

''Our consistent demand has been restorations of our rights and that will be part of our presentation,'' AIKS president Shiban Dudha said here.

Accepting the invitation after two days of consultation with various affiliates of the AIKS, he said confidence building measures (CBM's) were a pre-requisite for initiating a meaningful dialogue on the return of the Pandits to the valley.

''We are of the view that CBM's must be taken for a meaningful dialogue on out return,'' Mr Dudha said.

He said the major CBM's include political space for Pandits in Parliament and state legislature with representation in Union and State Cabinet and granting of reverse minority status to the community and declare the community of refugees as Internally Displaced Persons till their return.

Urging the Prime Minister to continue with the one-on-one meetings with all shades of opinion, Mr Dudha said such discussions will help arriving at a broad consensus on finding possible solution to the vexed issue.

Several Pandit organisations, including Dr Agnishekhar-led Panun Kashmir, have already accepted the invitation to the meet, to be held at the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course Residence.

Almost all Kashmiri separatist outfits have turned down the offer for the conclave.

The Prime Minister had decided to hold talks with all those groups and individuals who abjure violence and join the mainstream, saying it was necessary to seek the involvement of all shades of opinion so as to arrive at a broad-based consensus on the Kashmir issue.

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