Successive govts sold false dreams to Kashmiri Pandits: Rahul

Jammu, Jan 21: Batting for a debate on the future of Kashmiri Pandits, model-turned-actor Rahul Bhat today said successive governments have sold "false dreams" to them and offered "lollipops" instead of formulating a "comprehensive and inclusive road map" for survival of the community.

"Successive governments are selling false dreams to KPs (Kashmiri Pandits) over the years. They have been offering KPs lollipops and chocolates which we generally offer to our children to observe silence and remain mute," Bhat told PTI.

"There is need for a serious debate, particularly on the survival of the minuscule community, which is slowly dying. I don't think that the government is doing enough on various fronts and various problems confronting the community.

Serious thought should be given to it. How KPs can go back but for that the road map has to be comprehensive. It has to be inclusive, said the actor, who was here to take part in some events.

He said, "A day will definitely come when we will go back... Till then KPs should be compensated for the entire losses they suffered during last 20 years."

All politicians and political parties are selling "false dreams" and imbibing hopes among the community by saying that one day you will return, said Bhat, who left the Valley along with thousands of Kashmiri Pandit families in 1990s in the wake of rise of militancy.

"We left because of insecurity due to terrorism... The situation (in Kashmir) should improve, peace should return only then Kashmiri Pandits would be able to think over their next step," he added.

Rahul, who is shooting a film "To hell with Heaven" on the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community, hit out at the government for the faulty package and failure to link the return of young KPs to the Valley with employment.

The packages that have been made for the KPs are not only wrong but faulty as well. "Small ghettos here and there will not work and putting them in these dungeons will not work.

There is a need to have a well-thought out plan how are you going to bring Kashmiri youngsters back and link their return with their employment and livelihood," the actor said.

He also sought measures to preserve the Kashmiri Pandit culture, saying it is "slowly and steadily dying".

PTI