The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains firmly committed to ensuring the dignified and secure return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, describing it as both a moral responsibility and a national priority.
Addressing a public gathering, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasised that sustained efforts are underway to create conditions conducive to rehabilitation, including enhanced security measures, housing initiatives and employment packages. He noted that the government’s approach goes beyond symbolic assurances and focuses on long-term stability, infrastructure development and confidence-building among displaced families.
The issue of return and resettlement has remained central to discussions about reconciliation and restoration of normalcy in the Union Territory. Thousands of families were forced to leave the Valley in the early 1990s amid militancy and violence, leading to one of the most significant internal displacements in independent India. Successive governments have introduced relief and rehabilitation schemes, but challenges related to security perceptions, employment sustainability and community integration persist.
Officials say recent developmental projects, improved connectivity and targeted job packages for migrant youth reflect an integrated strategy aimed at facilitating voluntary return. The administration has also highlighted investments in housing colonies and transit accommodations designed to provide safe and stable living conditions.
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that peace and inclusive growth are prerequisites for meaningful rehabilitation. He stressed that rebuilding trust, preserving cultural identity and ensuring economic opportunities are vital to making return not just possible, but sustainable.
As political discourse in the region continues to evolve, the assurance from the Centre signals that the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits remains a key agenda point, tied closely to broader efforts aimed at long-term peace and reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir.
