Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday alleged that successive governments, at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir have so far not been able to create conditions that would pave the way for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
He, however, assured the J&K legislative assembly that till that happened, religious sites and properties of the Pandits will be protected by the government.
Speaking in the House during a discussion on a private member’s bill, Abdullah said the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits is a reality that neither the government nor anyone else denies.
“Kashmiri Pandits or Kashmiri Hindus left Kashmir in a very difficult situation and turbulent times. Since then all the successive governments at the Centre and in J&K reiterated that they want to take them back to Kashmir with honour and dignity but having said so, we have not been able to create such an atmosphere wherein Pandits can go back,” he said.
The CM further said, “Their sense of security was snatched and unless and until we restore their sense of security, thinking about their return will be idiotic on our part. Till the time goes back, it’s the government’s responsibility to protect their properties and religious sites.”
Abdullah recalled that after 1996 when NC came to power, the government brought a bill to ban sale of properties of Pandits to ensure protection.
He also regretted “propaganda-based movies on Kashmir”.
“We can’t stop movies on propaganda but there is another side of the story where people (Muslims) are protecting properties and temples of Pandits. They too would have been good movies but none explored those stories. However, I assure the House that all religious properties shall remain intact and protected,” he said.
He said the government is taking steps to safeguard properties belonging to the displaced community, adding that religious sites linked to them remain a priority and are being preserved and protected.
He reiterated his stand that the government was committed to ensuring the welfare and protection of the displaced community and ensuring steps towards their dignified return to the Valley.
Govt committed to phased regularisation of daily wagers: CM
Reaffirming its commitment to regularisation of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir, chief minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Legislative Assembly that the process will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year.
He made these remarks while responding to a bill moved by MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami which read, “A Bill to provide for regularisation of services of casual and other workers working in various Departments of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and for the matters incidental thereto (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No. 45 of 2025)”.
The CM said that he does not oppose the intent behind the proposed legislation on regularisation, but expressed reservations regarding the timing of its introduction.
“The government has already made a clear commitment that the process of regularisation will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year and we stand by that commitment,” he said.
He emphasized that the opposition was not to the sentiment of the Bill, but to its introduction at this stage, particularly when the Government has recently made an announcement on the matter. “Not even a month has passed since the commitment was made. I think that raising the issue on the very first day of the financial year appears meaningless,” he said.
The CM reiterated that the government fully acknowledges the concerns of employees who have devoted the prime years of their lives in service and affirmed that their regularisation remains a priority.
Calling for a constructive approach, he said that the matter is currently under examination by a Committee and urged that its report be awaited. He appealed to legislator Tarigami to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill in view of the Government’s assurance and ongoing process.
Later, satisfied by the assurances from the CM, legislator Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami withdrew his bill.
Another bill on the same subject moved by MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para, that reads “A Bill to provide for regularization of adhoc, Daily wagers, need based and other Temporary workers (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No. 8 of 2025),” was rejected through voice vote.
Assembly grants 2-month extension to JJM House panel for report submission
The Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday, granted two months’ extension to the House Committee on Jal Jeevan Mission to submit its report.
The motion was accepted and extension was granted through voice vote.
The Chairman of the House Committee, Justice Hasnain Masoodi, moved a motion which reads, “that this house do extend the tenure of the House Committee on Jal Jeevan Mission for a further period of three (3) months to enable it to complete its assigned task and submit report.”
The House noted that the Committee required time to check works executed under JJM across Jammu and Kashmir and granted three months extension to it to submit the report.
Speaker Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, said that major part of the work has been completed by the House Committee, however, it requires more time to submit the report as there are 3200 WSSs to be examined.
