Kashmir Pandits doubt Omar Abdullah's newfound 'realisation': Ashok Pandit

Mumbai[India], Jan. 19(ANI): Film maker Ashok Pandit on Thursday said that Kashmiri Pandit community are finding it very difficult to trust the intentions of the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who spoke in favour of their homecoming today. Soon after the House met in the morning, Omar said the Assembly should pass a resolution for the return of Kashmiri Pandits and other migrants, rising above party politics. "It took 27 years for Omar Abdullah to realize that there is a need of Kashmiri Pandits to return to Kashmir that is their home land. We as a Kashmiri Pandit population have been silent for last 27 years and it is very difficult to trust you (Omar) till," he said. Pandit also took potshots at Omar's father Farooq Abdullah by saying that he was responsible for inception of the separatist group Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. (JKLF) "On one side you are talking of the language of Hurriyat and other side your party was responsible, and specially your father Farooq Abdullah is responsible for the formation of JKLF. That is why it is difficult for us to believe that you (Omar) seriously want Kashmiri Pandits to return," he added. Remembering the pain and agony of 1990 exodus, Pandit said, "The screams and shouts of the local population and people who were responsible for driving us out of Kashmir and we still cannot forget those screams." On the 27th anniversary of exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution for their return to the Valley. Former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah moved a resolution for return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. "Today it has been 27 years since they left the valley. The government should pass a resolution so that all those people will return to Kashmir," Omar told the assembly. He also said that all political parties should rise above politics and pass a resolution to create an atmosphere so that all those who have left Kashmir could return. Earlier in the day, Omar tweeted in support of the same. "27 years is 27 too many #kashmiripandits," his tweet read. Ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits was an event that occurred on January 19, 1990, when most of the Pandit families were forced to flee from Kashmir Valley due to outbreak of terrorism. The estimate of Pandits having fled from Kashmir ranges from approximately one lakh to as high as eight lakh.(ANI)