Kashmiri Pandits should move on, stop being prisoners of past: Mehbooba

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged Kashmiri Pandits to "stop being prisoners of the past" and rather invest in a shared future with the Muslim community in the valley.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister made the remarks during her visit to the Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, where she interacted with Pandits celebrating the annual Kheer Bhawani mela.

Taking note of the large turnout, Mehbooba emphasised that the people of Kashmir welcome them wholeheartedly.

"We want our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters to forget what happened in the past and look forward to the future," the People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief told reporters.

Earlier, while Mehbooba was entering the temple, located 30 km from Srinagar, some people shouted slogans, such as "jis Kashmir ko khoon se seecha, woh Kashmir humara hai (the Kashmir that we have nurtured with our blood, that Kashmir belongs to us)".

PDP workers were seen trying to maintain a distance between Mehbooba and the angry protesters.

Taking to X, Mehbooba described the atmosphere at the mela as "heartwarming beyond words", stating that the warmth between the two communities transcended the walls of mistrust built by divisive political agendas.

She highlighted the deeply-rooted, ongoing connections between the two communities, noting that countless Kashmiri Muslims travelling outside the valley for medical treatment are regularly cared for by Kashmiri Pandit doctors.

She specifically lauded prominent doctors who continue to practise medicine in the region.

"Equally inspiring are doctors like Sushil Razdan, U Koul and Sameer Koul, who continue to serve patients in Kashmir, especially those unable to travel for treatment. Their work is not just healing bodies, it is helping heal old wounds and rebuild bonds between communities," she said.

The PDP chief urged younger Pandit doctors to draw inspiration from these figures, reconnect with their roots and visit Kashmir.

She urged the government to provide all facilities to Kashmiri Pandits.

"The government here should provide facilities to the Kashmiri Pandits who have come here or are living here. They are living in one-bedroom flats.... Similarly, Kashmiri Pandits are facing problems in Jagti (in Jammu). There is an issue in the NFSA (National Food Security Act). You cannot treat Kashmiri Pandits at par with other people when it comes to the NFSA. You have to provide all facilities to them which the migrants should get," she said.

Mehbooba appealed to people to maintain brotherhood.

"We should not look into the past, but look forward. Also, those who want to use Kashmiri Pandits as a weapon, Kashmiri Pandits should isolate them and they (Pandits) should have direct connections with Kashmiris," she asserted.

The PDP chief criticised the current living conditions of the community in various camps in Jammu and urged the government to significantly upgrade facilities for both returning and residing Pandits.