Independent MLA protests against 'composite townships' for Kashmiri pandits
Rasheed stormed into the well of the House and criticised the central and state governments over the issue and sought replies from them.
"We will not let Kashmir become another Gaza and Palestine, we will not tolerate a separate township for the Pandit community in Kashmir," he said.
He, however, welcomed the return of the community to their native place.
"Kashmiri Pandits are welcome to return to their native places and live peacefully with Muslims as they have been living for centuries, but we will not allow the creation of another Gaza within Kashmir," he said.
He sought a reply from Sayeed who was in house on his government's proposal. Rashid also entered into a verbal dual with BJP members including Ravinder Raina, who objected to his protests.
"Kashmiri Pandit community has every right to return to wherever they want to, they were forced to leave their houses and the atmosphere is not right for their return to their native places as yet, so they need a secure place where they can live," Raina said.
Later Rashid returned to his seat after Speaker Kavinder Gupta asked him to do so and raise the issue from there. Amid protests by him, the proceedings continued.
Later speaking to the reporters outside the Assembly, Rashid hit out at the Jammu & Kashmir government for the proposal.
"Majority of Kashmiri Pandits are not interested in settling back in Kashmir. People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is unfortunately acting as a facilitator in the grand plan of BJP brigade to communalise and polarise the situation in Jammu & Kashmir," he claimed.
He also lashed out at NC MLAs for "keeping mum" on the issue.
He claimed Kashmiri Muslims on the contrary have suffered a great deal in the state.
Countering his allegations, Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar told reporters, "Everybody knows the meaning of composite, it means that it is not communally oriented. It will have access to everybody... this is my understanding."
When asked whether some land has been identified for setting up of such "composite township" he said he did not have any such information.
Sayeed met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday in Delhi and assured him that his government will soon acquire land for creating "composite townships" for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir Valley.
Raina, the BJP MLA from Nowshera, said his party was committed for a honorable and dignified returns of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places but the situation is not conducive.
He said that while resettling Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, issues like their security, their livelihood have to be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, NC termed the creation of the separate township as a dangerous step that would "create a further division between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims in Kashmir".
NC General Secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar said people of Kashmir especially Muslims want Kashmiri Pandits to return to their native places.
He said that even separatists in the Kashmir valley are in favour of the return of the displaced community.
CPI-M MLA M Y Tarigami said the state government should take the House into confidence while taking such a decision.
"It is not a favour to KPs. But the House should be taken into confidence. There should be social integration of Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits, which will pave a way for the return of KPs to the valley," he said.
Opposing the proposal, Congress MLA and former minister Usman Majid said it will create a gap between the two communities instead of bringing them closer.
However the Kashmiri Pandit community said it would adopt a wait and watch policy on the issue.
"Once something concrete comes out, we will sit together and take a decision. We are cautiously watching this," said Agnishekhar, convener of Panun Kashmir.
Chairman of the All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) Vinood Pandit said, "It is basically the displaced members of the community who have to return to their homeland, we are of the opinion that a national level apex committee under the watch of government of India must be constituted that should discuss the procedures involved."
"We will not let Kashmir become another Gaza and Palestine, we will not tolerate a separate township for the Pandit community in Kashmir," he said.
He, however, welcomed the return of the community to their native place.
"Kashmiri Pandits are welcome to return to their native places and live peacefully with Muslims as they have been living for centuries, but we will not allow the creation of another Gaza within Kashmir," he said.
He sought a reply from Sayeed who was in house on his government's proposal. Rashid also entered into a verbal dual with BJP members including Ravinder Raina, who objected to his protests.
"Kashmiri Pandit community has every right to return to wherever they want to, they were forced to leave their houses and the atmosphere is not right for their return to their native places as yet, so they need a secure place where they can live," Raina said.
Later Rashid returned to his seat after Speaker Kavinder Gupta asked him to do so and raise the issue from there. Amid protests by him, the proceedings continued.
Later speaking to the reporters outside the Assembly, Rashid hit out at the Jammu & Kashmir government for the proposal.
"Majority of Kashmiri Pandits are not interested in settling back in Kashmir. People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is unfortunately acting as a facilitator in the grand plan of BJP brigade to communalise and polarise the situation in Jammu & Kashmir," he claimed.
He also lashed out at NC MLAs for "keeping mum" on the issue.
He claimed Kashmiri Muslims on the contrary have suffered a great deal in the state.
Countering his allegations, Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar told reporters, "Everybody knows the meaning of composite, it means that it is not communally oriented. It will have access to everybody... this is my understanding."
When asked whether some land has been identified for setting up of such "composite township" he said he did not have any such information.
Sayeed met Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday in Delhi and assured him that his government will soon acquire land for creating "composite townships" for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir Valley.
Raina, the BJP MLA from Nowshera, said his party was committed for a honorable and dignified returns of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places but the situation is not conducive.
He said that while resettling Kashmiri Pandits in the valley, issues like their security, their livelihood have to be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, NC termed the creation of the separate township as a dangerous step that would "create a further division between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims in Kashmir".
NC General Secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar said people of Kashmir especially Muslims want Kashmiri Pandits to return to their native places.
He said that even separatists in the Kashmir valley are in favour of the return of the displaced community.
CPI-M MLA M Y Tarigami said the state government should take the House into confidence while taking such a decision.
"It is not a favour to KPs. But the House should be taken into confidence. There should be social integration of Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits, which will pave a way for the return of KPs to the valley," he said.
Opposing the proposal, Congress MLA and former minister Usman Majid said it will create a gap between the two communities instead of bringing them closer.
However the Kashmiri Pandit community said it would adopt a wait and watch policy on the issue.
"Once something concrete comes out, we will sit together and take a decision. We are cautiously watching this," said Agnishekhar, convener of Panun Kashmir.
Chairman of the All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) Vinood Pandit said, "It is basically the displaced members of the community who have to return to their homeland, we are of the opinion that a national level apex committee under the watch of government of India must be constituted that should discuss the procedures involved."