Jammu, Jan 20: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and people of the Valley are eagerly awaiting their return.
The former chief minister also suggested that reservation of two Assembly seats for Kashmiri Pandits would be preferable.
“Kashmiri Pandits must take their own decision. We are eagerly waiting for their return as the Valley is incomplete without them,” Mehbooba told reporters at PDP headquarters in Gandhi Nagar here.
She was responding to a question about Kashmiri Pandits, who completed 36 years in exile on January 19, holding protests in the last two days for their return and rehabilitation.
The PDP chief said she had recently met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and conveyed to him that instead of nominating two members of the community to the Assembly, those seats should be reserved for them.
“Let them come, contest elections. They will seek votes and Muslims will vote for them. That is how communities will come together,” she said.
Mehbooba questioned the benefit of nominating someone sitting somewhere in Mumbai or some other place to the Assembly, saying such a move does not truly represent or benefit the community.
“They are our brothers, and we want them to return with dignity and live together with us so that Kashmir becomes complete,” she added.
