Politicos slam J&K MLA Rasheed's Kashmir 'escapists' remarks

Srinagar: Leaders across the political spectrum on Tuesday slammed and distanced themselves from Jammu and Kashmir member of legislative assembly Engineer Rasheed after he referred to Kashmiri Pandits as `escapists`.

"There are shrill voices on both sides of the divide. And both voices are doing a great disservice to the cause of reconciliation between the two communities... Engineer Rasheed`s statement is condemnable. Neither do Kashmiri Pandits need to apologise to Kashmiri Muslims for what has happened. Nor do Kashmiri Muslims need to apologise to Kashmiri Pandits for what has happened," said the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Junaid Mattu.

"Kashmiris in large have suffered. Many have died. Both communities need to understand each other`s pain and shrill voices on both sides should be muted and ignored," he added.

Meanwhile National Panthers Party (NPP) leader Bhim Singh also dismissed the statement of Engineer Rasheed, which he called `opportunist`.

In his statement, Rasheed had referred to himself as `the real actor of the lawless land` and claimed that the Kashmiri Pandits had `run away` when violence hit the state. The independent MLA also called for Kashmiri Pandits to `apologise`.

"Kashmiri Pandits owe an apology to the Muslims of Kashmir for leaving the Valley 25 years ago... I am the son of the soil, I am not an escapist... We did not leave Kashmir when the first bullet was fired, we stayed back for the sake of humanity," he had said.

Last week, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that he will take all stakeholders into confidence before accepting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh`s request for creating separate zones for Kashmiri Pandits in the state.