Jammu, Mar 18 : Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma today said that Kashmiri Pandits had been forced out of Kashmir nearly 30 times in the past few centuries, and asserted that the State government was committed to their return to and rehabilitation in the Valley.
He was addressing a meeting, organised by the Panun Kashmir to mark the birth anniversary of 15th century legendary saint-physician Shri Bhat here.
“Kashmiri Pandits have been forced out of Kashmir nearly 30 times (in the past few centuries). But the forced migration in 1990 will be the last,” Sharma said.
“The BJP-PDP government is committed to their return to and rehabilitation in Kashmir Valley. Thereafter, there will be no migration of Hindus from Kashmir,” he added.
BJP leader Ashok Kaul, in his speech, said the Kashmiri Pandit community had proved its resilience over the last three decades and the BJP always had a soft corner for the displaced people.
“It will be the endeavour of the party to take Kashmiri Pandits into confidence while taking a decision having far reaching impact,” Kaul said.
Panun Kashmir president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, in his concluding remarks, said Shri Bhat made a great contribution to the history of Kashmir by resettling the indigenous people of the place, the Kashmiri Pandits, in the fifteenth century.
He said that the Kashmiri Pandit community eagerly awaited the actions of the government on major issues concerning their survival.
