Modi has deceived Kashmiri Pandits: Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government at the Centre of "deceiving" Kashmiri Pandits as they had failed to rehabilitate the community in the Valley.

The Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad was speaking on the 'Demise of Secularism- The Future of Secularism' at 'Words Count' festival here.

He was being interviewed by Prafulla Ketkar, editor of Organiser, a publication affiliated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Replying to a question from a Kashmiri Pandit in the audience who said Owaisi spoke about Rohingya Muslims but not the displaced community, the latter refuted the allegation.

"In my speech (in Parliament in 2014), I had said Kashmiri Pandits must be sent back to the Valley," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president said.

"But what has (PM) Modi done in four-and-half years? Are you satisfied with this? What atmosphere have they created in Kashmir?" he asked.

"Who is responsible? Kashmiri Pandits have been deceived by Modi and BJP. You should realise and smell the coffee. They have not done anything for you," he told the member of the audience.

Incidentally, Modi was on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday where, during a rally in the state's Vijaypur area, he spoke about the community.

Referring to Kashmiri Pandits, the prime minister said the Central government was committed to giving respect and dignity to the displaced community.

"The pain that they had to undergo, they had to leave their homeland. I have never said this but their pain is within me too," PM Modi said.

Replying to another query on J-K by a woman Army officer, Owaisi said, "In the Valley, the Army is there and it is facing a challenging task and I respect them."