Srinagar– In a heartfelt statement, PDP leader Zuhaib Yousf Mir has expressed his firm belief that both the common people of Kashmir and leaders across the political spectrum deeply yearn for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. Mir acknowledged that the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community was a tragedy, orchestrated by a select few individuals whose actions were fueled by hate, parochialism, and anarchical political agendas.
Mir highlighted that while these perpetrators, both within the establishment and outside, played a significant role in the exodus, the common Kashmiri Muslim population was, by and large, opposed to it. He noted that the ordinary Kashmiri Muslim, though frightened, tried to protect their Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters to the best of their ability, often in secret.
Speaking directly to the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mir offered a heartfelt apology: “Nothing can take away the immense pain that you have suffered, and today I take this opportunity to say sorry to all my Kashmiri Pandit brothers, sisters, mothers, and my friends. On behalf of all of Kashmir, I own up to the fact that we failed you. We could not protect your interests when it mattered most, and our secularism was hijacked by an agenda that undermined our unity.”
Mir reassured the Kashmiri Pandit community that the desire for their return is not driven solely by constitutional mandates of secularism but by a deep-rooted sense of belonging. “You are an integral part of our syncretic culture, and Kashmir is incomplete without you. No matter how much we try, we cannot undo the damage caused by the exodus, but we will continue to make every effort to right the wrongs.”
Zuhaib Yousf Mir’s statement calls for healing, unity, and a collective effort to ensure that the painful chapter of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus is acknowledged and addressed in a way that fosters reconciliation and a stronger, more inclusive Kashmir.
