Only 10-15% of Kashmiri Pandits will return to the Valley, says Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

Only 10 to 15% of displaced Kashmiri Pandits will choose to return to the Valley, Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed claimed as differences between PDP and BJP over their resettlement came to the fore on Thursday.

As per reports gathered from interactions with Kashmir Pandits only 10 to 15% of them will choose to return to the Valley, Mufti told the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as he reiterated his government's endeavour to create a conducive atmosphere for those who are willing to return.

"They (Kashmiri Pandits) are well placed in various parts of the country and abroad... If we do something on the matter, they will come to the Valley on seasonal pattern," he said.

"They are good and highly qualified people. Before this (militancy erupted) KPs have also gone out of Kashmir. They included P N Haksar, P N Dhar, Dr U Kaul, Dr Sameer Kaul. They need bigger canvas and move out of Valley," he said.

"But in 1990 a lot of KPs went out of Kashmir from everywhere but we will try to bring them back," he said. Speaking against separate township for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the chief minister said when there were plans to set up camps for them "they were of the view that their settlement should be in their native places".

"I am happy that one leader of Kashmiri Samiti opposed the idea of separate clusters for KPs and suggested that they should live at their native places," he said, adding "they batted strongly that wherever they will live, they will live with Muslims, Sikhs and other together".

"I want to tell the House... There is no plan (for a separate township for KPs in Kashmir). A hue and cry erupted that a separate Homeland is being made for them. I said that is not possible. Those who are living there have to spend their lives together. We will try our best," he said.

Differences between Jammu and Kashmir ruling alliance partners -- PDP and BJP -- came to the fore with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier in the day making it clear that the Centre was going ahead with its plans for composite townships for KPs.