Kashmiri Pandits protest against separatists for opposing separate township

Kashmiri Pandits staged a protest here on Saturday against separatists for opposing the creation of a separate township for the former.

The protest was organized by All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC).

The protestors were carrying placards with messages that read 'separatists cannot dictate return of Kashmiri Hindus', 'we want answers from Jammu and Kashmir Government' and 'Yasin Malik Bharat desh ka gaddar hai' written on them.

APMCC Delhi president Ravinder Pandita, expressed his disappointment over separatist's 'bandh' call in the valley, saying that Hurriyat leaders have no say in the matter.

"I am happy that the government thought about this issue and decided to resettle us. We have been displaced in our own country for the last 25 years. The government wants to construct townships for us but these separatists are protesting against it. They have even called for a bandh in the valley. What we are saying is that when government has decided one thing who are these separatists or Hurriyat leaders to say anything in this matter," Pandita asked.

Earlier in the day, all shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in Kashmir following the 'bandh' call by the separatists to voice their protest over a reported state government move to create a separate township for Kashmiri Pandits.

On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that he will take all stake holders into confidence before accepting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's request for creating separate zones for Kashmiri Pandits in the state.

Mufti's statement came after he had on Tuesday assured Rajnath Singh that his government has accepted the demand for creating separate zones for Kashmiri Pandits in the state.