TMC calls for steps to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits

Kolkata, Jan 16: Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy today said the Union government should take steps to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced out of the Valley in early 90s, and added that a series of past mistakes has led to the serious situation in Kashmir. "The rehabilitation process of Kashmiris is yet to start.

The government should take steps to rehabilitate the Kashmiri Pandits. The issue calls for urgent attention and the problem must be solved," Roy said at a seminar on Kashmiri Pandits.

"The situation has become so serious due to a series of mistakes that were committed. We need to find a solution to these problems," Roy commented.

In 1990s the situation in Kashmir Valley took an ugly turn, when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave the Valley following persecution and threats by terrorists groups operating in the valley.

Yesterday, in a memorandum submitted to Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh, a delegation of Sampoorn Kashmir Sangathan (SKS) sought his intervention for their demands, including rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and jobs for those who have crossed the age to apply for government jobs.

Singh assured them that the Narendra Modi government is committed to ensure dignified return of the displaced community to the places of their origin in the Valley. He further assured them that memorandum submitted by them will be put up before the Home Ministry for perusal.

On December 11, the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution moved by BJP's Nishikant Dubey for immediate steps to rehabilitate people displaced from Kashmir as the government asserted that measures are being taken in this regard.

PTI