Jammu, Jan 19(KNS): Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) State President Vivek Bali has strongly criticized National Conference President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for his recent remarks suggesting that Kashmiri Pandit children may not return to the Valley permanently and would instead visit Kashmir only as tourists.
Farooq Abdullah made the statement on January 19, a day when the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community observes ‘Holocaust Day’ to mark their mass exodus from the Valley in 1990. His comments have sparked sharp reactions across political and social circles.
In a statement issued here, Vivek Bali said that Farooq Abdullah’s remarks were deeply insensitive and reflected a defeatist mindset. He questioned how a senior leader could casually accept the permanent displacement of an entire community without addressing the failures that forced them to leave their homeland in the first place. Bali asked serious questions about the security, dignity, and rights of Kashmiri Pandits, stating that political leaders must ensure conditions for their safe and honorable return instead of normalizing their exile.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He added that such statements demoralize the displaced community and ignore their decades-long struggle for justice, rehabilitation, and security. Bali said Kashmiri Pandits have always expressed a desire to return to their ancestral homes, but successive governments failed to create a secure environment. He emphasized that the responsibility lies with political leadership to rebuild trust, ensure safety, and provide sustainable rehabilitation rather than making remarks that diminish hope.
Bali further said that January 19 is a day of remembrance, pain, and resilience for Kashmiri Pandits, and any statement made on this day should reflect empathy and commitment. He accused the National Conference leadership of using the issue for political convenience while avoiding accountability for past governance failures.
Bali asserted that SBSP stands firmly with the Kashmiri Pandit community and will continue to raise its voice for their rightful return, security, and permanent resettlement in the Valley with full state support.(KNS)