[Reader-list] Return to Kashmir, J&K minister urges migrants

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

Return to Kashmir, J&K minister urges migrants


Express news service
Posted online: Thursday , January 17, 2008 at 11:44:34
Updated: Thursday , January 17, 2008 at 12:00:04
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Return-to-Kashmir-JK-minister-urges-migrants/262268/


Pune, January 16 With around 500 Kashmiri migrants making Pune their
home during the winter months every year, their presence has become a
source of concern not only for some groups in Pune, but for the
Kashmiri Government.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir
Minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir said that the government was now urging
these migrants to return to Kashmir and work there instead of
"spoiling the atmosphere of Pune."

Drawn by the safe and congenial atmosphere in the city, they come to
Pune and settled down mainly at Kalewadi. "These migrants receive a
lot of support from NGOs and other groups here. But since they come
here every year, we had complained to both the Maharashtra and J&K
governments some two years ago requesting a permanent solution," said
Sanjay Nahar, founder of Sarhad, an NGO working for welfare of
abandoned Kashmiri children.

Explaining the reasons behind their complaint, Nahar said that since
the migrants were financially needy, they could easily be lured by
money and exploited for aiding terrorist activity. "This poses a
threat to them, since they will automatically be blamed for any
violence or terrorism in the city, and will create problems for their
security. The safe image of Pune will also be ruined," he said.

Nahar said the Kashmiri government was keen to investigate the reasons
for this vast influx of migrants into the city, and how a solution can
be found. "Recently Inspector General of Police from J&K Javid
Mukhdoomi also visited Kalewadi and wrote a report on this seasonal
migration of Kashmiri Muslims," said Nahar. Mir, who is the minister
for Public Health Engineering, Irrigation, Flood Control, and
Horticulture is also in the city to meet the migrants and study their
situation.

Mir said that complaints had been received that the migrants were
begging for money, food, and so on. "We spoke to them and asked them
their reasons for coming here and whether they felt threatened in
Kashmir. They said that they are not forced by anyone to come here. So
we have told them that they should return to their state and take up
employment there instead of spoiling the atmosphere in Pune, which has
always been good to Kashmiri migrants and students," said Mir.

Mir said that the J&K government was also trying to encourage Kashmiri
Hindus to return to their home state. "Many Kashmiri Pandits were
forced to leave their birthplace because of militancy. But now the
situation has become normal, and they should return to where they
belong with full honour and dignity," said Mir, adding that thousands
of Pandits had visited their home towns during the Kheer Bhawani
Tulbula festival, and had received a warm welcome.

Referring to military intelligence reports that infiltration in
Kashmir was on the rise, Mir said, "We do not want to question the
reports, but we are government officials working at the ground level
in Kashmir, and I can see that the situation is improving," he said,
adding that the government was also encouraging film shootings and
tourist visits to the state.