Srinagar: The Hurriyat Conference (G) has reiterated its commitment to welcoming the “homecoming” of Kashmiri Pandits, emphasizing its support for initiatives that facilitate their safe return to their homeland. In a statement issued to the Global News Service (GNS), a spokesperson for Hurriyat (G) expressed the group’s desire to see Kashmiri Pandits return to live in harmony with their Muslim brethren, as they did in the past.
“We wholeheartedly and sincerely want them to come back and live as they previously used to, along with their Muslim brothers,” the spokesperson said. However, the group firmly opposes the idea of creating separate settlements for Pandits, citing concerns that such a move would undermine the region’s historical social, and cultural fabric.
Opposition to Separate Settlements
The spokesperson responded to recent remarks by the Governor, who characterized separate settlements for Kashmiri Pandits as a “compulsion” rather than a choice. Hurriyat (G) warned that decisions made under the pretext of compulsions could obscure ground realities and exacerbate social divisions.
“If the decision is subservient to compulsions, then there is every possibility of fading away the realities under the veil and dust of so-called compulsions which everybody can narrate according to his own choice,” the spokesperson argued.
Criticism of Political Exploitation
Hurriyat (G) also criticized what it described as the “political exploitation” of Kashmiri Pandits’ plight. The group accused certain “fascist forces” and political opportunists of weaponizing the Pandits’ victimhood to communalize the region’s ongoing movement for political gain.
“Kashmiri Pandits have been made showpieces by fascist forces to malign and communalize the ongoing movement. Some self-centered and political opportunists exploit their ‘victimhood’ for their dividends,” the spokesperson added.
The Hurriyat Conference also extended its invitation to all displaced citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, including those who were affected by conflicts in 1947, 1965, and 1990, to return and reclaim their rightful place in the region. “We welcome with open arms every displaced citizen of this state,” the statement read.
Hurriyat (G)’s message underscores its willingness to foster unity and reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir. While strongly advocating for the return of Kashmiri Pandits, the group maintains that their integration must preserve the communal harmony and shared heritage of the region. Any efforts to isolate or segregate communities, it believes, would only serve to deepen societal divides.