J&K admin accords top priority to security of Kashmiri Pandits: LG Sinha

Jammu, Feb 16 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said his administration accords top priority to the security of Kashmiri Pandits and will always stand by them.

He said he wishes that the day comes when the community members will return to their homes in the Valley as they have suffered a lot in the past over three decades.

“The salaries of employees including PM package employees and minority (Dogra) employees, who have joined back their services in Kashmir, have been released,” Sinha said addressing a function in connection with a three-day-long Shivratri mela at Jagti migrant township on the outskirts of the city.

He said the Jammu Kashmir administration will always stand by the community.

“Your safety is our top priority and we are taking all possible measures to ensure that. This is the commitment of the government of India and the prime minister,” the Lt Governor said.

He said he wants accommodations for Kashmiri Pandit employees to be completed soon so that they live there without any difficulty and perform their duties.

“You have suffered a lot for three decades. I pray that the day will come when you return to your homes with honour,” Sinha said.

The Lt Governor also said progress has been made for construction of housing units for PM package employees in Kashmir.

Earlier, it was difficult to get land for construction of 6,000 dwellings but now land has been identified and except for two sites, the work is in full swing, he said.

“As many as 1,200 dwellings will be handed over by April and by December more than 2,500 dwellings would be handed over,” he added.

On the occasion, Sinha visited Kashmiri Pandits in three migrant camps of Muthi, Butanagar and Jagti to review arrangements for the Maha Shivratri festival.

“Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters living in different parts of the country and the world have kept their tradition alive,” he said.

Sinha also talked about initiatives of the administration for extension of seamless public service delivery to Kashmiri Pandit community members at their doorsteps.