Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Surinder Ambardar Sunday termed the recent meeting of Kashmiri Pandits with Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq an “immature PR exercise” and said the party and its government do not endorse such activities.
He was reacting to the reported meeting of a five-memberKashmiri Pandit delegation and the Mirwaiz on the issue of the community’sreturn to the valley last week. “Neither the party nor the government endorsesuch activities. This should not been taken seriously,” the Legislative Councilmember told reporters Sunday. He said the party is keeping an eye on thesedevelopment and activities.
“It is immature PR exercise with those (Hurriyat Conferenceleaders) who have credibility crises at their end,” the BJP leader said.Ambardar said that the BJP and its government are firm on the return andrehabilitation of the community in the Valley with honour and dignity.
The MLC said Kashmiri Hindus had whole-heartedly supportedthe BJP in the recent LokSabha elections despite a cumbersome voting process.
He said that the party believed that the Home Ministry wouldfacilitate the creation of a hassle-free process of voting for the community inthe Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, several Kashmiri Panditsorganisations distancedthemselves from the meeting. The All India Kashmiri Samaj condemned themeeting. “Kashmiri Pandits, the aborigines of the Valley, will return on theirterms, not dictated by the forces of Kashmir responsible for the community’sexodus,” a spokesperson said.
The All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), expressedconcern over some self-styled leaders trying to “play with the cause of thecommunity by taking it for granted”.
In a statement issued here, ASKPC president Ravinder Rainaasked community members to be vigilant against the elements are killing thecause of Kashmiri Pandits.