Security Key for Kashmiri Pandits' Return, Says J&K CM Omar Abdullah

The chief minister told the Legislative Assembly that as the government continues to prioritise the restoration of their religious places, the key to the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their native places depends on the security environment.

Omar Abdullah was speaking during a discussion on a private member's bill. He said that the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits is a reality neither the government nor anyone else denies.

He said successive governments have made efforts to facilitate their return, but the situation on the ground has not yet reached a level where members of the community feel safe enough to come back.

The Chief Minister said the community's sense of security has been deeply affected and must be rebuilt before any meaningful return can take place.

"Without restoring that confidence, expecting their return would not be realistic," he told the House. He said the government is taking steps to safeguard properties belonging to the displaced community, adding that religious sites linked to them remain a priority and are being preserved and protected.

Referring to earlier legislative efforts, he said attempts were made in the past to introduce a bill to safeguard such properties, but these faced resistance from sections within the community. He said any future legislation must have a broader consensus to avoid divisions.

The Chief Minister said certain portrayals highlight only one side, while stories of communal harmony and protection often remain underrepresented.

He also said the government is committed to ensuring the welfare and protection of the displaced community, while working towards conditions that would enable their safe and dignified return.

It must be mentioned that thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced out of their home and hearths by Pakistan-backed terrorists in the early 1990s as violence took the centre stage in the Valley.

- IANS