'J-K Govt committed to dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits'

All necessary measures will be taken to build confidence among migrants, says minister of state

The Jammu and Kashmir government will take all possible measures to ensure safe and dignified return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their homes, state minister Sajad Ahmed Kichloo has said.

"The state government will take all possible measures to make atmosphere in the Valley congenial to ensure safe and dignified return of migrants to their homes and hearth. No stone will be left unturned to address their genuine grievances and hardships," Kichloo told a delegation of JK National Conference Minority Cell here yesterday.

The Minister of State for Home, Industries and Commerce and Tourism said, all the necessary measures will be taken to build a sense of confidence among the migrants before they are properly rehabilitated to the Valley.

Kichloo said Pandits are a part of the rich culture and ethos of Kashmir. The conception of "Kishmiryat" is incomplete without existence of Pandits in the Kashmir Valley, also known as the land of sufis and saints, he added.

A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits, comprising former MLC Bushan Lal Bhat and President of J&K National Conference Minority Cell, M K Yogi presented a memorandum of demands and discussed their issues with the state Minister.

The memorandum demands political empowerment of the Pandit community by reservation of two seats in the State Assembly.

They sought to update the voter list of migrants, enhancement of cash relief upto Rs 10,000 and special recruitment drive for the migrant youth in state Police department.

The memorandum demands for rehabilitation of sick industrial units of Kashmiri migrant industrialists and traders and the implementation of Prime Minister's package for return and rehabilitation of the migrants.

It also demanded five per cent reservation for the migrant youth in central government offices.