New Delhi, Dec 8: Asserting that Kashmiri Pandits are integral part of Kashmiri society and their dignified return was one of the unfinished agenda of her party, Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president & former Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti today stressed on community based reconciliatory efforts in order to bridge the gaps.
Ms Mufti, while addressing a gathering of members of Kashmiri Pandit Community here in the national capital said that Kashmir was incomplete without Pandits and that the greater and constant communication between the two communities is paramount to bridge the gap.
“Kashmir is incomplete without you, you are part of our culture and existence. Believe me that you are always missed back home. Your exodus has hurt us too and we want you to return in a dignified manner”, Ms Mufti told the gathering.
Mehbooba urged the youth of the two communities to be at the forefront of initiatives of reconciliation underlining that youth alone can make any such effort sustainable to yield desired results.
“The new generation from both Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit community have had no interaction and thus don’t know much about each other. The distances between us have only grown. If we want to make a headway in community reconciliation, our youth have to interact and know each other better,” she added.
Underlining how the the pain and suffering of KP community has been weaponised by some political parties while doing nothing to help them and see their dignified return to the valley, Mehbooba said that a deliberate and concerted effort is being made through hateful television debates to further the wedge between the two communities.
“A sinister design is in play to deepen the fault lines between the two communities in furtherance of communal & divisive agenda. They want us to hate each other. A deliberate attempt is being made to widen the gap and create atmosphere of hate at the cost of community interests,” she added.
The members of the KP community appreciated the efforts and initiatives started by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Syeed Sb for the community and pledged to contribute to initiatives aimed at bringing the two communities closer and facilitate greater communication. KP community members residing across various pockets of Delhi & NCR participated and former president of Dubai KP association also submitted a list of issues concerning minorities.
Former Legislator Firdous Tak, Party Chief Spokesperson Suhail Bukhari, Spokesperson Mohit Bhan, Youth Coordinator North Kashmir Aryan Dar, Media Coordinator Jammu Pervez Wafa were among those present. (KNT)
