1996 11   Our News Folio- From The Capital - KSD Delegation Meets Dr. Abdullah

A delegation of the Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi led by Shri N.N. Kaul, President, with Sarvashri L.N. Dhar, Ashok Kak, Surinder Kher, Pyari Lal Koul as members, met the J&K Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah at New Delhi on October 5, 1996 and dis- cussed with him the problems of Kashmiri Pandits The Chief Minister agreed to the point of view of the delegation regarding the return to the valley of KP Migrants. It was made clear to the Chief Minis- ter that KPs can return to the Valley only when they are able to go to their own homes and not to be settled in any camps. This envisages that only when conditions normalise to that extent, the process of return can be taken up. Dr. Abdullah assured the delegation that all the houses burnt or damaged during the period of militancy will be reconstructed at Gov- ernment expenses and those houses which are ille- gally or forcibly occupied at present shall be got vacated and the premises handed over to the right- ful owners.

The Chief Minister further disclosed that ones the reconstruction of the KP properties is taken up, his government will impose a ban on any sales of their houses and other assets.

Dr. Abdullah was also apprised of the problems of Govt. Migrant Employees. On this he categori- cally stated that the posts of migrant employees have since been filled up in they valley and the policy of his government would be not to disturb those Muslim employees who are now working on such posts. He, however, assured that the interests of migrant em- ployees will be fully protected and new posts will be created for them as and when they are asked to proceed back to the valley so that their seniority and employment benefits are completely safeguarded. The delegation requested the Chief Minister since all these employees had to leave under distress and threat to their lives, they should not be forced to go back to valley unless conditions get normalised there.

As regards the business class of the migrants, the incidents of eviction of KP tenants by their landlords in their absence during the period of their exile were brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, who said he was fully aware of such cases and assured that the victims of such forcible evictions will be allotted shops, offices and other establishments in the office complexes which his government proposed to build. He further assured that due care will be taken to ensure that such people get accommodated at these sites which will be commercially viable and equivalent to the ones from where they have been evicted

The Chief Minister further told the KSD delega- tion that the return of KPs was on the top of the agenda of his party and he has made this intention crystal clear publicly during his election meetings and rallies. While seeking the co-operation of the KP Organisations in helping in the process of mi- grant's return, be conceded that there are certain elements in the valley who do not want KPs to return and as such they will create all hurdles in this proc- ess. Therefore, the process of return has to be planned in a phased and gradual manner and rehabilitation of KPS back in the Valley will be a befitting reply to the Islamic fundamentalism there. Dr. Abdullah said that his government proposed to set up Rehabilita- tion Commission headed by an Officer of the rank of Chief Secretary, who will hold preliminary talks with the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi and other organisations first and then a meeting will be convened at Jammu where representatives of KP community will be invited for comprehensive talks in order to re- solve the multifarious problems of KPs. The meet- ing, he assured, will be held after Diwali festival and urged the Kashmiri Samiti to prepare notes and memoranda on various issues. He assured the delegation that his Government will not thrust its own decisions on any issues pertaining to KPS and will go as per the wishes of KP who are living in exile for the last seven years.

The meeting with Dr. Abdullah was held in a very cordial atmosphere and he expressed great pleasure in meeting the KP representatives which he treated as a good beginning. He promptly and spontaneously accepted the request of the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi to attend a function in the Capital, where a large number of the Biradari members would have an opportunity of meeting and felicitating him A meeting was accordingly fixed on Sunday the 3rd November, 1996 at Pyarelal Bhawan, near ITO New Delhi

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Courtesy: 1996 November, Koshur Samachar