“1990 LIKE CONDITIONS HAVE RETURNED FOR KASHMIRI PANDITS” : FAROOQ ABDULLAH

Farooq Abdullah, head of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and a former chief minister of the union territory, claimed that if the government does nothing soon about the rising number of targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits.

Talking exclusively to media persons, Abdullah said, "If nothing is done immediately in the matter, then in the coming days, Kashmir may become 100% Hindu-less. 1990-like conditions have returned for Kashmiri Pandits. I am not responsible for the murders. I have not made any pro-terrorism statements.”

Since October of last year, a number of targeted killings have occurred in Kashmir. Migrant labourers and Kashmiri Pandits have made up a large portion of the victims.

Following the recent targeted death of Puran Krishan Bhat in the Chowdarygund region, up to ten Kashmiri Pandit families have left Shopian in south Kashmir.

The Shopian government, however, has denied rumours that Kashmiri Pandit families are leaving the valley as a result of the most recent targeted death there.

The Shopian department of information and public relations declared that the rumours of the "Kashmiri non-migrant Hindu community" departing were "baseless."

Abdulla has requested the help of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. He said, “PM Modi and Amit Shah should look into this matter immediately. At the same time, an all-party meeting should be called on the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and exodus of minority Hindus.”