Jammu, Sept 23: The apex committee set up to monitor return of Kashmiri Pandits met on Wednesday here with revenue minister Raman Bhalla, who heads the panel, assuring the members that the coalition government was for honourable return of migrants to the Valley.
 “Keeping in view the seriousness of Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and majority of the people of Kashmir valley, no time should be wasted for ensuring honorable return of Pandits to the valley,” Bhalla told the members.
 An official statement said that the panel was constituted on chief minister’s instruction as it will monitor return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the Valley, for which Rs 1618 crore Prime Minister’s Package has been already announced.
 The statement said that on Wednesday except three members of Panun Kashmir and two members Jitender Bakshi and C L Vishav, who were indisposed, all other 30 members attended the apex committee meeting. Bhalla chaired the meet.
 Minister of state for revenue and relief Nasir Aslam Wani, commissioner/secretary finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, commissioner/secretary, GAD, Basharat Ahmed Dhar, secretary revenue, Eijaz Iqbal, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, (M) Vinod Koul besides members of Apex Advisory Committee MLC, Vijay Bakaya, MLC, Khem Lata Wakhloo, Ashok Bhan (advocate), Ashwani Chirangoo, A. N. Vaishnavi, H. L. Chatta, Prof A. N. Sadhu, Moti Lal, Hridey Nath Jatu, Moti Lal Koul, Chuni Lal Bhat, Bhushan Lal Bhat-Ex-MLC, Anil Dhar, Krishan Kumar Khosa, Jatin Bhat, Vinod Pandit, Prof C. L. VishanPyare, Lal, Bansi Lal (Purkhoo), Ashok Hangloo, Dr R. L. Bhat, Moti Lal Bhat, Avtar Krishan, Sanjay Saraf, Kumar Ji Wanchu, Hira Lal Pandita and Roshan Lal (Purkhoo) were present on the occasion.
 The statement said that the members were of the view that the time has come to implement the package for those of the KP’s who desire to return to the valley.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 IST