New Delhi: Protests over the proposed composite townships for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley are gaining momentum, now with an organisation of the displaced Pandits, the All-Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), joining the fray.
The APMCC on Saturday held a protest in the capital accusing chief minister Mufti Muhammed Sayeed of making a complete “u-turn” on his plans to build composite townships for their settlement, which is a part of the common minimum programme of the coalition government in the state.
Some groups in the Valley held a major demonstration in Srinagar on Friday against such townships, which are also being opposed by separatist elements and the Hurriyat.
In fact, an organisation working for the welfare of the migrant community, S.K. Foundation said the coalition government of BJP-PDP was an “artificial arrangement”.
“Our struggle is against the artificial arrangement between the PDP, BJP and the Union government. The way Mufti Sayeed is indulging in bluff he will be in trouble. If we return to the Valley how will the separatists blackmail the government?” Sunil Shakdher of the SK Foundation said.
Mr Shakdher also warned the community against falling prey to the “false” promises of political parties and stressed that getting “recognised” as the rightful residents of the Valley was the need of the hour. The protesters also burnt effigies of separatists and the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution at Jantar Mantar here.
The chief of APMCC, Ravinder Pandita, demanded the formation of an apex committee of ground level organisations be formed and a comprehensive plan be issued by the state and the Central governments for their rehabilitation.
Presently there are about 62,000 registered Kashmiri migrant families in the country, who moved from the Valley to Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country after the state was rocked by militancy in 1989.
Meanwhile, a partial to complete shutdown was observed in Valley against the proposed separate townships in the Valley.
