Kashmir’s civil society groups to hold talks with stakeholders

In the recent budget, three places for the relocation of Kashmiri pandits have been identified.

Amid controversy over the Jammu & Kashmir government’s assurance to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to acquire and provide land for “composite townships” for Kashmiri pandits in valley, Kashmir’s civil society- an amalgam of various civil groups Friday said that they would hold talks with all the stakeholders to come up with a resolution over the issue.

“We have to solve this issue, with taking the people of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Delhi on board,” said Kashmiri poet Zarief Ahmad Zarief. “We will hold a seminar so that we can come up with a solution over the issue which would be acceptable to everyone.”

Addressing the media in Srinagar, the members of different civil society groups said that the plan to rehabilitate the pandits in separate colonies “is not a solution” and the civil society will not allow government to establish “separate colonies” for the Kashmiri pandits.

He, however, said that nobody is against the return of the pandits. “They are part of the society and they can come and settle at their respective places,” he said.

Khuram Parvaiz, a human rights activist and a civil society member said that the state government is “very clearly lying” about the relocation of Kashmir pandits and the civil society would fight against the government proposal.

“In the recent budget, three places for the relocation of Kashmiri pandits have been identified. Chief minister Mufti is saying different than his Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu.”

Parvaiz said that the group would talk to everyone and get a resolution on the issue. “We are opposing the government proposal and at the same time we are thinking of creating an alternative and with the consultation of Kashmiri stakeholders here, in Jammu, in Delhi and elsewhere we will devise new alternative,” he said, adding that they want to engage with everyone including the people from pro freedom groups, Panun Kashmir, BJP, NC and others.

“As a civil society we will take a lead and talk to everyone and find the resolution of this issue,” he said.

Some members even said that government is not serious on the issue. “Everybody is on the same page. Government was not serious in the past, nor they are serious today,” said Kumar Wanchoo, a Kashmir Pandit and an industrialist.

“Nothing is going to happen until and unless seriously talks are initiated,” added Wanchoo.

Source:: Indian Express