Amid protests by Kashmiri Pandits to mark ‘Exodus Day’, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said no one has stopped Kashmiri Pandits from returning to the valley, adding that many people of their community are still living a comfortable life in the region.
Speaking to reporters, Farooq Abdullah said, “Who is stopping them from coming here? No one. They can come here and live comfortably. Many Pandits live here. When others left, they did not go.”
On the demand for a rehabilitation policy by Kashmiri Pandits, Abdullah said, “During my tenure I had promised that we will build houses for them, but then we were out of power. Now Delhi (central government) will have to take care of this.”
Kashmiri Pandits observe January 19 as ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day/Exodus Day’ to commemorate their mass exodus from the valley in 1990, when Pakistan-backed fundamentalists threatened the minority community, forcing them to flee.
On AR Rahman’s Bollywood-related statement, the National Parliament chief said, “The fire of hatred has been burning in our India for the last few years. Hindus and Muslims are being divided to win elections.”
The controversy began when Rahman said in an interview with BBC Asian Network that his work in the Hindi film industry had declined in recent years due to changes in the industry over the past eight years. That interview was followed by reactions from both fans and film personalities.
Later, music maestro AR Rahman shared a video message on his Instagram account. In this video he did not comment directly on the controversy, but talked about his connection with India, music and culture.
Rahman said, “Dear friends, music has always been a medium for me to connect with, celebrate and honor culture. India is my inspiration, my guru and my home. I understand that sometimes intentions can be misunderstood, but my aim has always been to uplift, honor and serve through music.”
He further added, “I have never wished to hurt anyone, and I hope my honesty will be felt. I consider myself fortunate to be an Indian because it allows me to create a platform where freedom of expression is always maintained and multicultural voices are respected.”