The father-son duo of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah seem to be on opposite sides when it comes to the exodus of 3.50 lakh Kashmiri Pandit and their return to the Valley.
While National Conference president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdulla sympathised with the displaced community and blamed the Central government for their plight, the senior Abdullah said the “onus is on the Pandits” to make a comeback to the Valley.
Farooq recently said: “They (Pandits) have to realise one thing, nobody is going to come with a begging bowl and say ‘come and stay with us’, they have to make a move”.
The former Union Minister’s remarks drew sharp reactions from the Pandit community.
Farooq’s remark was “insulting”. He is trying to “hide his own failure as Chief Minister in 1989-90” by issuing such statements, said Pandit representatives.
Omar, meanwhile, said the Centre has been “paying only lip service to the community”. He also tweeted “my family left under somewhat similar circumstances so I know the fear of not seeing home again, though mine was short lived”.
Farooq, Omar differ on exodus, Pandits’ return to Valley
