NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits was top priority of the government and sought to assure them that they would be resettled in the Valley amid adequate security. Members of the seven-member delegation also claimed that Shah said temples in the Valley would be renovated and restored.

Members of the delegation — comprising Surinder Kaul , International Coordinator of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD); Utpal Kaul, GKPD India Coordinator; Taj Tikoo, president of the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS); Dileep Mattoo , president of Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), among others — later told newspersons that the minister had promised to resettle the Kashmiri pandits in the very districts from where they were forced to flee by militant outfits in the late eighties and early nineties.

“The minister promised to resettle all Kashmiri pandits in their respective districts. He also assured that the resettlement process will be done in phases amid tight security,” said Utpal Kaul.

The delegation suggested that the age limit for government jobs vis-a-vis Kashmiri pandits be increased up to 50 years. Kaul quoted Shah as saying that all temples in the Valley would be renovated.

The delegation handed over a memorandum to Shah thanking the Union government for voiding Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution in the erstwhile state of J&K.

“The delegation members expressed heartfelt thanks to the minister for maintaining a consistent position on its promise to rehabilitate the displaced Kashmiri pandits in the Kashmir Valley...The delegation also thanked the minister for abrogating article 370 and 35A whose pernicious impact has destroyed the Kashmiri society, culture, civilisation, economic progress and the ability to lead a peaceful life in the valley,” stated the memorandum.

The delegation demanded the formation of an advisory council of Kashmiri pandits to work under the aegis of the minister of home affairs to come up with a plan for full restorative justice for the Kashmiri pandits.

The delegation requested Shah to accept the community’s demand for a single concentrated rehabilitation plan, including employment and other rights, enshrined in the Constitution as well as restoration and rebuilding of temples, shrines and community assets, including crematoriums.

“The minister gave a patient hearing to our demands and conveyed that rehabilitation of our community is an utmost priority with the government. He sought help from our community to compile a database of all the properties that have been either occupied or encroached upon so that the government can initiate redressal mechanisms to restore the property to the rightful owner,” the delegation said.

