Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference (NC), expressed optimism on Tuesday that Kashmiri Pandits would soon return to the Valley. He viewed their significant turnout at the Mela Kheer Bhawani, despite the recent Pahalgam terror attack, as a powerful rebuttal to the perpetrators.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the temple shrine in Ganderbal district during the annual mela, Abdullah remarked, “This (presence of devotees at the mela) is a huge thing. This is Mata’s (temple deity) doing. She has called them here, to their homes.”
The former J-K chief minister urged people to overcome their fears stemming from the terror attack and the subsequent four-day military conflict, and to visit Jammu and Kashmir in large numbers. He specifically encouraged pilgrims to visit Mata Vaishno Devi, noting, “In Jammu as well, people are scared due to the fight. They are not coming to Mata Vaishno Devi. I want to tell the people to leave fear and come and have Mata’s darshan.”
Abdullah also anticipated a strong turnout for the annual Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to commence on July 3, hoping that “people will come in large numbers for Bholenath’s darshan.”
He welcomed the large number of devotees at the Kheer Bhawani Mela, stating, “Fear among people is beginning to end. This is a befitting reply to those who want to end brotherhood in the hearts of the people.” He affirmed that the sentiment of brotherhood remains strong.
Abdullah highlighted Kashmir’s historical significance as a land of “rishi-munis and sufis,” and emphasized that the Kheer Bhawani Mela is an integral part of this shared cultural fabric. He voiced his hope that the mela would pave the way for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
“People come here for darshan, to pray for an end to their problems as well as the problems facing the country. We have also come here and hope the mela is the beginning of the return of our brothers and sisters so that they live here,” he said, adding, “We have come here with the hope that Mata will bring them back home so that they live here comfortably.”
Regarding PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s proposal to allocate land for Kashmiri Pandits, Abdullah recalled that during his tenure as chief minister, he had proposed not only land but also the construction of houses for the community, but the prevailing situation became “unsuitable.” He acknowledged former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s initiative to provide jobs to thousands of Kashmiri Pandits, aiming for their return. “But then the situation again became unsuitable. We now hope that the situation improves and our brothers and sisters return,” Abdullah concluded.
