SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley with dignity and security remains a firm commitment of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the release of the book Kashmir: Nativity Regained, authored by Prof Ashok Kaul, Sinha said attempts had been made by the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory to suppress the truth about the exodus, while the administration continues efforts to eliminate terrorism from the region.
He said the pain of the 1989–90 killings of Kashmiri Pandits and their displacement remains deeply embedded in collective memory, with many families still bearing the trauma of forced migration and loss of homeland.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that a dedicated web portal launched in 2021 is facilitating the restoration of properties belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits that had been encroached upon.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Sinha said the move fully integrated Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India and strengthened confidence among younger members of the community about returning to their roots without fear.
He said the Union Territory has witnessed significant transformation since 2019, asserting that sustained efforts are underway to accelerate development and eradicate terrorism.
Describing the book as an important contribution documenting the exodus, Sinha praised the resilience of the Kashmiri Pandit community for preserving its culture and traditions despite displacement.
He also stated that Pakistan-backed terrorism had claimed the lives of thousands of Kashmiri Muslims, adding that efforts have been initiated to provide justice and employment support to affected families.
