We will pursue return of Kashmiri pandits: Mufti

AHMEDABAD May 2, 2015  Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Saturday said his government will persuade Kashmiri Pandits to come back and stressed that the necessary actions will be taken against those who have unfurled Pakistani flag in valley."Kashmiri Pandits are part of our culture, a culture of living together. They had to leave in an atmosphere of militancy in 1990s. We have made several attempts for their comeback in the past but did not succeed. Around 3 lakh Kashmiri Pandits had left the state. They are very intellectual and learned people. They should come back. My government will take sufficient action to bring back those three lakh people back," said Mufti when asked about the resettlement of Kashmiri



Pandits. However Mufti refused to respond on Pakistan's statement that township for Kashmiri Pandits will change the demography of J&K.Mufti along with three cabinet ministers of Jammu & Kashmir was in the city to promote tourism in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He also interacted with group of Ahmedabad-based tour operators.Geelani on Friday had held a rally in south Kashmir's militancy-hit Tral area where Pakistani flags were displayed amid raising of 'anti-India and pro-Pakistan' slogans.On Hurriyat's demand of curtailing Amarnath yatra from existing 90 to 30 days, Mufti said that Yatra will go on as planned. "The Amarath Yatra has been going on for a long time and will continue to go on. People of J&K are in favor of the Yatra," added Mufti.