Pandits condemn UJC statement on their return to valley

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Angered by the United Jehad Council's statement that Kashmiri Pandits will have to restore their credibility before their return to the valley, the displaced community today said it is an ''open threat'' to the Pandits as well as the sovereignty of the Indian state.

The Panun Kashmir, All India Kashmir Samaj and the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi severely criticised the UJC, a conglomerate of several militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

''Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and its citizens.

Any threat to the people of this country's a threat to the sovereignty of the nation.... UJC has no business dictating terms and conditions to Kashmiri Pandits on when to return to their homeland,'' Panun Kashmir convenor Agnishekhar told UNI.

''As far as the credibility is concerned, perpetrators of violence and murderers should not raise such issues,'' he added Dr Agnishekhar said the Jehad council's comments have ''exposed'' the dual face of the politicians ''who have time and again been saying that the situation is conducive for the return of the displaced community''.

''This should be an eye opener for the Government that despite peace talks with Pakistan and the Kashmiri separatists, fundamentalists do not want peace,'' he added.

Expressing similar views, Delhi Kashmiri Samiti Political Affairs Chairman Sunil Shakdhar said the ''pandits were vindicated and the exodus was pre-planned by Islamic fundamentalists.

''The fundamentalist do not want peace to coexist. This statement has proved that... this is an open threat to the Indian state,'' he added.

All India Kashmiri Samaj General Secretary Shiben Dudha said the displaced community will return at their own terms.

''We will return when the atmosphere is conducive and CBM's are in place including constitutional guarantees to safeguard our political social and economic rights,'' he added.

The Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council (UJC) had said the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to their homes in the Valley at this juncture would add to the complications.

''The return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley at this time will add to the complications. But before their return, they (members of the displaced community) will have to restore their lost credibility and the atmosphere of faith,'' UJC chairman Syed Salahuddin had said in an interview from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

He alleged that the Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley at the behest of the then state Governor Jagmohan.

Salahuddin also heads the Hizbul Mujahideen which is the single largest indigenous militant group operating in the strife-torn state and is blamed for migration of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

''They (Kashmiri Pandits) have hurt the feelings of the majority community (Muslims) and are still working on the directions of the government agencies,'' he alleged.

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