Srinagar
Appealing government to withdraw the order asking Kashmir Pandits to register them before visiting any shrine in the valley, independent lawmaker and MLA Langate Er Rasheed on Monday said that there is no threat to any Kashmiri Pandit at least from the side of common Kashmiris, stone palters and even militants.
The spokesman said it makes no sense that government has issues the circular asking Kashmiri Pandits to register themselves before visiting any shrine, as Kashmiri Pandits are the inhabitants of Kashmir and have been visiting their shrines, ancestral places and also attending social and other functions with their Muslim neighbours even in turmoil.
There are dozens of examples in every nook and corner of Kashmir, recently when the Muslim community performed last rites of some Pandits and are taking care of their kin who preferred not to migrate. He said government should not forget that militants never objected to their visits to valley and even most of the pro-resistance leaders including Syed Salah-Ud-din appealed Kashmiri Pandits to return to the valley.
Rasheed said that by issuing a confusing and controversial order government is trying to send a negative message that Kashmiri Pandits are under some threat but world should know that Kashmiris are not seeking a resolution to Kashmir dispute on religious lines and even those favouring concept of caliphate also are well versed with the fact that Islam provides complete respect and protection to all minorities.
Rasheed however accused a section of Kashmiri Pandits of defaming the majority community only for their personal ends and to serve the interest of various agencies in New Delhi. Rasheed demanded immediate revocation of order and said that by issuing such orders government is delaying the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral places.
