Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) president and MLA Khansahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin today said that government’s clarification regarding establishment of Pandit and Sainik colonies was welcome, but it needs to issue an order in this regard.While reacting to Education minister Nayeem Akhtar’s yesterday’s press conference in which he stated that government won’t set up “exclusive colonies” for Pandits and had no land available for Sainik Colony, the PDF chief said, “It is good that the government has cleared the issue. But let general administration department issue an order in this regard and clear the issue once for all.
Only issuing a statement is not enough.”On government’s offer to separatists to come up with their idea for ensuring return of the Pandits, the MLA Khansahib said, “It is a good sign that they have come up with this idea. But it is not only this issue which the government needs to discuss with the separatists. Government should also discuss other matters related to Kashmir with the separatists.”He also urged the government to lift the curbs on the movement of separatist leaders immediately. “If government fails to do so, that means it is not sincere in its offer to separatists to discuss and debate the issues. It is high time that government shuns its rigid approach and allows free space to all which is essence of democracy,” the PDF chief added. (KNS)