Return of Pandits should not be under police protection: Babbar

27/05/2016

JAMMU, May 26: Amid a row over return of Kashmiri Pandits, Congress today said it should not be done under police protection but an atmosphere should be created so that they can live in the Valley like they did prior to migration. The party's national spokesman Raj Babbar accused the Centre as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government of indulging in "rhetoric and drama" over the issue.
"We want that things (regarding the return of Kashmiri Pandits) should not be confined to only papers but a conducive atmosphere should be made so that when the Kashmiri Pandit returns, his security and safety should be ensured," he told reporters here.
"Their return should not be under the shadow of guns, under the protection of police. They should be able to roam freely in the markets with dignity," Babbar said.
His comments come amidst stiff opposition by separatists and some others to the government's reported proposal for setting up colonies to resettle the Kashmiri Pandits. He said Kashmiri Pandits should get an environment which was like they used to get when they lived in the Valley prior to migration.
Asked to comment on the issue of Amitabh Bachchan being slammed for his proposed participation in government programme tomorrow, the Congress spokesman said, "Why should we target someone who is getting ready to be targeted himself?
"We have nothing to do with it, neither we targeted. The question is that his name surfaced in Panama Leaks and it was not Congress which brought him into it. If his name has come in the Leaks, then it is the BJP government which has to give an answer."
Turning to Uttar Pradesh, the Congress spokesman alleged that Samajwadi Party government was "hand-in-glove" with the communal forces and that registration of FIR against Bajrang Dal activists over arms training was a mere eyewash.
"See, this is a nexus between Uttar Pradesh government and communal forces? What is the fun of registering an FIR if no punishment is given and nobody is arrested. This is just an eyewash what the UP government is doing," said Babbar, an actor-turned-politician.
He said the activists should be identified and immediately booked under stringent Act as such incidents were aimed at creating polarization in the country.
On BJP's allegation of 'jungle raj' in Bihar, he said the Nitish Kumar government, in which Congress is a part, has clearly said that whosoever is found guilty of killings will be severely dealt with as per the law and nobody will be allowed to break it.
"Bihar people have reposed faith in the government and I assure you that the situation of law and order would be very strong," he said.
To a question of "loyalty bond" being signed by the Congress MLAs in West Bengal, the spokesman said a negative atmosphere is being created and "misinformation is being spread" that people are leaving Congress.
So the bonds are signed "just to show them a mirror that Congress leaders are loyal to the party and they are not leaving the party but are rather ready to sign a bond that they are with the party," he said.
Earlier addressing a press conference, the AICC spokesman said the Narendra Modi government was "a party of slogans" which has "drastically failed" to deliver in the past two years.
"This government is celebrating its two years, but in reality, this slogan government has failed to deliver on all the fronts. Prices of essential commodities have gone up. Farmers across the country are committing suicide and one man is running the entire show," Babbar said.

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