Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and vice president of National Conference, Omar Abdullah, on Friday, appealed to Kashmiri pandits not to leave their homes and allow a repeat of the 90s.
"I can understand the pain and fear the families of the slain are going through and also the members of the minority community," he said after visiting the residence of Supinder Kour, principal of government higher secondary school at Sangam, Eidgah, who was shot dead by militants in the school along with a teacher Deepak Chand, a Kashmir a pandit, on Thursday.
"I believe these attacks are aimed to drive a wedge between the communities and to push them out of Kashmir. We can't let that happen," he said and added that the attackers are trying to force another exodus.
"I appeal to the members of the minority community not to allow the repeat of the 90s and not to leave your homes out of fear," he said.
He said his party will continue to demand security to protect minorities in the valley.
Abdullah questioned Jammu and Kashmir government's decision of granting 10- day holiday to government employees belonging to pandit community and ignoring the members of Sikh community. "Why this select to approach," he asked?
He said government must consider its decision and offer the same number of holidays to government employees belonging to the Sikh community as well.
Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) also called Gupkar Alliance, after a meeting, in a statement, said the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir is the result of the failure of policies of the government that have brought Jammu and Kashmir to this point
“Removal of article 370 was sold to the country as a solution to the problem of Kashmir," it said.
PAGD said the recent decisions of Jammu and Kashmir only heightened the differences between communities who otherwise live peacefully together.
It said while it is true that majority of the civilians killed in Kashmir have been Muslims, it doesn't absolve anyone of the responsibility to help the minorities. "We appeal to those who may be considering fleeing valley to reconsider their decision," it said.
The alliance said nothing has been done to bridge the gap after the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24 in which he talked about bridging dil ki doori and Dilli ki doori.
PAGD said the killing of Yasir Ali, civilian who was shot dead by CRPF in Anantnag on Saturday, is the direct result of the heightened state of alert and justification for use of force. "The administration must do everything possible to ensure that the shoot at sight policy is not adopted by the security forces," it said.
In a related development, the leader of People's Conference Sajad Lone urged the government to "get off its high horse and talk to people who have been around for decades".
"Very humble unsolicited advice to the state administration. Please be careful get off your high horse and talk to the people who have been around for decades. Seems we are in for some challenging times. I can c a tipping point. Try to evade it. Every passing day will get challenging," Lone said in tweet.
