Kashmiri Pandits want 'political rehabilitation'

A Kashmiri Pandit organisation today demanded the community be "politically rehabilitated" by the government.

"Today, Kashmir is without the Pandits and with a very little prospect of going back to the valley in near future under the shadow of gun, it is imperative for the government to politically rehabilitate us," All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) president, Moti Koul said addressing a press conference here.

He said adequate political space for Pandits in legislative institutions and civic bodies in Jammu and Kashmir should be given by the government, "which will also facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native land".

Koul added there were many ways to do this, including nominations in legislative and civic bodies.

To a question, Koul alleged that temples and other Hindu shrines had been partially or completely damaged in Kashmir during the past two decades and that the government was doing nothing about this.

He also criticised the proposal to allow the return of those who had crossed the LoC into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for arms training.