Half of the township for the Pandits while the remaining can be acquired by other communities
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed
New Delhi: In an important initiative aimed at breaking the logjam over the contentious issue of composite townships for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir will soon initiate a dialogue with separatist groups like Hurriyat who have been strongly opposing the move.
Sources said the Centre too has conveyed to the state government that it should have a dialogue process with all stakeholders, including the separatists. Both the Centre and the state appear to be certain that even hardline separatists will eventually come on board as it has now been agreed that only 50 per cent of these composite townships will be exclusively reserved for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. The remaining township can be acquired by members of other communities, including Muslims and Sikhs who have an important presence in the Valley.
Both the Centre and the state are keen to dispel the notion that the entire composite township would be meant exclusively for Kashmiri Pandits. “It is just that half of the township would be for the Pandits while the remaining can be acquired by other communities. This will ensure convergence or mix of all communities in the townships. Even otherwise, in normal localities also, there is a mix of all population though the majority of may vary,’’a government official said.
( Source : dc )
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