JAMMU — Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday said the return of the Kashmiri Pandit community to the Valley with full dignity and security is a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sinha was speaking at the release of a book titled Kashmir – Nativity Regained, authored by Prof Ashok Kaul.
He said the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir had tried to bury the truth, but asserted that terrorists and their support networks who “sowed terror and scarred generations will never be forgiven or forgotten”
“The return of Kashmiri Pandits with dignity and security is the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the lieutenant governor said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir has undergone a significant transformation since 2019.
He said the adversary’s attempts to derail peace and development had been decisively dismantled, and that sustained efforts had restored the region’s ancient glory while accelerating development. “Very soon, this soil will be completely freed from the scourge of terrorism,” he added.
Referring to the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, Sinha said the community displayed remarkable resilience despite being uprooted from their ancestral homes. He saluted their spirit, saying displaced families preserved their culture, language and traditions even in adversity, and went on to achieve success across diverse fields.
The lieutenant governor also highlighted the launch of the Kashmiri migrant web portal in 2021, aimed at facilitating the recovery of houses and land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits that had been encroached upon.
Calling displacement one of the gravest human tragedies, Sinha said the pain of becoming strangers on their own soil continues to haunt affected families. He added that the trauma of the 1989–90 violence remains deeply etched, with many families still bearing emotional scars.
Urging the youth to remember the atrocities committed during the period of militancy, Sinha said Pakistan-backed terrorists had also claimed the lives of thousands of innocent Kashmiri Muslims. He added that justice delivery has gained momentum since last year, with efforts underway to address employment and other needs of affected families.
He said the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 renewed hope among the younger generation of Kashmiri Pandits, enabling them to reconnect with their roots without fear. — (PTI)