National Conference President Farooq Abdullah visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal to pay obeisance during the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani.
Addressing the media, Abdullah said it was heartening to see a large number of devotees at the shrine. He expressed hope that Kashmiri Pandits would soon return to their homeland and live alongside fellow Kashmiris.
“We want our Kashmiri Pandit community to come here and live with us. Hopefully a day will come soon and they will return to their homeland,” Abdullah said.
He added, “It is the blessings of this deity that we are seeing brotherhood, which had been missing for many years, prevail again. We pray that the day is not far when Kashmiri Pandits return to their homes and live amongst us.”
Abdullah emphasized that the community itself must also make efforts for their return. “I think people have to try themselves. Unless they make attempts, they cannot come. Preparations have been made, people in Kashmir want them to return. We also pray for their early return,” he said.
He noted that the Centre and J&K government had taken several steps to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits, including rehabilitation measures.
Abdullah concluded by saying that the mela reflects Kashmir’s spirit of brotherhood and communal harmony, and expressed hope that Pandits would soon live alongside Kashmiri Muslims once again.
