thesolar65
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Srinagar: It is Kashmiris versus Kashmiri Pandits as Pandit leaders revive their demands for an exclusive homeland within the Valley.
"Government should identify land, distribute it among returnees and give cash. We need exclusive zones which are protected and which we will ourselves protect," says Roshan Lal Raina, Chairman, Voice of Kashmir.
Dr Agnishekhar, leader of Panun Kashmir, wants zones which enjoy Union territory status, de-linked from the state government.
"We don't approve of movement of aazadi, merger with Pakistan, autonomy. We want a separate location to be earmarked under central administered set-up. We want a Union Territory status with full Indian constitutional guarantees. The area should be to the North and East of river Jehlum," he says.
However, Kashmiri religious and separatist leaders call the Panun homeland formula a divisive one. "We should not erect a wall as is the case with Israel and Palestine," opines Yasin Malik, JKLF Chairman.
"Panun is a Home Ministry funded organisation. Majority of Kashmiri Pandits don't approve of homeland. I don't want Pandits to come and live in an atmosphere of hate and fear. We want them to live in composite culture," he adds.
Grand Mufti Bashir-ud-din Ahmad too is opposed to the idea. "We welcome the return of the Kashmiri Pandits. We will be happy if they come but if their demand of a separate homeland is a conspiracy, we will oppose it strongly," he says.
Youngsters in both Kashmir and Jammu regions have varying views.
Fakira, a student in Srinagar says, "Why are you forgetting that Kashmiri Pandits are not the only minorities in Kashmir. Tomorrow the Sikhs will come up and say we want this area under Sikhs only. This will create more problems. we know Kashmir is not a peaceful state yet."
Nitin, another student, from Jammu says, "Government makes several formulas, raises expectations but works on nothing. On the ground no difference is made. Issues of Konsar Nag, Amarnath yatra and other internal issues has given the thinking that returning is not possible."
Recently the Omar government stopped Pandits from a yatra to Konsar Nag lake citing environmental damage, adding to the distrust and friction.
More than two decades after parting ways, the mistrust has grown so deep that it will take years and many confidence building measures for the Muslims and Pandits to come together.
"Government should identify land, distribute it among returnees and give cash. We need exclusive zones which are protected and which we will ourselves protect," says Roshan Lal Raina, Chairman, Voice of Kashmir.
Dr Agnishekhar, leader of Panun Kashmir, wants zones which enjoy Union territory status, de-linked from the state government.
"We don't approve of movement of aazadi, merger with Pakistan, autonomy. We want a separate location to be earmarked under central administered set-up. We want a Union Territory status with full Indian constitutional guarantees. The area should be to the North and East of river Jehlum," he says.
However, Kashmiri religious and separatist leaders call the Panun homeland formula a divisive one. "We should not erect a wall as is the case with Israel and Palestine," opines Yasin Malik, JKLF Chairman.
"Panun is a Home Ministry funded organisation. Majority of Kashmiri Pandits don't approve of homeland. I don't want Pandits to come and live in an atmosphere of hate and fear. We want them to live in composite culture," he adds.
Grand Mufti Bashir-ud-din Ahmad too is opposed to the idea. "We welcome the return of the Kashmiri Pandits. We will be happy if they come but if their demand of a separate homeland is a conspiracy, we will oppose it strongly," he says.
Youngsters in both Kashmir and Jammu regions have varying views.
Fakira, a student in Srinagar says, "Why are you forgetting that Kashmiri Pandits are not the only minorities in Kashmir. Tomorrow the Sikhs will come up and say we want this area under Sikhs only. This will create more problems. we know Kashmir is not a peaceful state yet."
Nitin, another student, from Jammu says, "Government makes several formulas, raises expectations but works on nothing. On the ground no difference is made. Issues of Konsar Nag, Amarnath yatra and other internal issues has given the thinking that returning is not possible."
Recently the Omar government stopped Pandits from a yatra to Konsar Nag lake citing environmental damage, adding to the distrust and friction.
More than two decades after parting ways, the mistrust has grown so deep that it will take years and many confidence building measures for the Muslims and Pandits to come together.
