Srinagar, Feb 04: Tariq Hameed Karra, President of the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), on Tuesday said if any party has worked to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, it is the Congress, particularly during the UPA-I and UPA-II governments.
Speaking to reporters here, Karra condemned the recent attack on a former Army man in Kulgam, calling it “a very unfortunate incident”. He said the attack exposes the claims of the Government of India, which repeatedly asserts that everything in J&K is under control. “That is not the case,” he said.
“In recent months, especially in Jammu, we have witnessed several tragic attacks and casualties. Civilian killings and attacks on security forces continue, which contradicts the narrative the Government of India frequently presents,” he added.
The J&K Congres chief said it is time for the government to be transparent about the situation instead of “projecting a false sense of normalcy” across the country and the world.
Regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting on J&K security, Karra said, “It is his job to take meetings. However, we expect a concrete policy that genuinely restores peace. The lack of complete peace continues to create insecurity among the people, with ongoing attacks on security forces and civilians. It would be better if the government introspected and formulated an effective policy.”
On the return of Kashmiri Pandits and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s recent meeting with them in Delhi, the former minister welcomed the development. “If Mirwaiz is engaging with them and working towards their return to Kashmir, it is a welcome step. The Congress Party has supported this cause from the beginning,” he said.
The MLA from Central Shalteng added, “If any government has actively worked to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, it is the Congress, especially during UPA 1 and UPA 2. The infrastructure for their rehabilitation was established during that period. The BJP has merely used them as a vote bank without taking substantial action. It is high time for all Kashmiri Pandits, who are an integral part of our society, to start returning. If Mirwaiz contributes to this process, it is indeed a welcome step.”
