ibn sultan
Srinagar, June 24: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley depends more on mutual efforts by Muslims and Pandits than on government initiatives alone.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag district, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that both communities share a common identity and future.
“I believe the role of the government is limited compared to the responsibility of our Muslim and Pandit brothers. We are one people, not different. I urge our Kashmiri Pandit brethren to look towards the future rather than dwell on the past,” Mufti said.
She made the remarks while attending the traditional “Mekhal” ceremony of a Kashmiri Pandit family in Omooh village of Verinag in south Kashmir.
Highlighting the contributions of renowned Kashmiri Pandit doctors such as Dr. U. Koul, Dr. Sushil Razdan, and Dr. Sameer Koul, Mufti said their service to patients in Kashmir reflects the enduring bond between the two communities.
She encouraged young Kashmiri Pandits, particularly professionals and doctors, to return to the Valley and contribute to its development.
Mufti also called on the government to improve facilities for Kashmiri Pandits residing in Jammu and Kashmir, including employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s Package. She suggested the construction of accommodation facilities near major temples to make visits and stays easier for members of the community.
“Kashmir, the land of saints and sages, should once again flourish with the presence of Kashmiri Pandits,” she said.
