Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has raised questions over alleged online threats being issued specifically to Kashmiri Pandit government employees working in the Kashmir Valley. He called for the Union Home Ministry to intervene and investigate the matter, questioning why other Hindu government employees and political leaders in the Valley had reportedly not received similar threats.
Abdullah made the remarks on Thursday during a press conference in Srinagar, attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
‘Why Are Only Kashmiri Pandits Being Threatened?’
Questioning the selective nature of the alleged threats, Farooq Abdullah said it was necessary to determine where the threats originated and who was behind them.
He questioned why only Kashmiri Pandit employees were reportedly being targeted when other Hindu government officials and leaders belonging to different political parties also live and work in the Valley.
Abdullah said the matter should not be ignored and suggested that the authorities should use social-media investigations and other available mechanisms to identify those responsible.
He described the circumstances as suspicious and called for a detailed investigation.
Home Ministry Asked to Investigate
Abdullah said security in Jammu and Kashmir falls under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, and urged the Union Home Ministry to take the issue seriously.
According to the report cited in the original material, minority employees had reportedly been advised to work from home until August 15 because of security concerns.
Alleged online threat posters reportedly contained names of Kashmiri Pandit employees along with phone numbers and other confidential information.
The original report attributed the threats to a group described as a shadow organisation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, but such attribution should be treated as an allegation unless independently confirmed by security agencies.
Abdullah Raises Kashmiri Pandit Rehabilitation Issue
Farooq Abdullah also used the occasion to raise broader concerns about the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.
He said the Prime Minister’s employment package for Kashmiri Pandits was intended to facilitate their return and rehabilitation rather than permanently confine employees to transit camps or separate colonies.
According to Abdullah, Kashmiri Pandits continue to face difficulties despite assurances regarding their rehabilitation.
He argued that genuine rehabilitation should enable members of the community to live among the wider population rather than remain isolated in transit accommodations.
‘Kashmiri Muslims Were Never Against Them’
Abdullah maintained that Kashmiri Pandits should be able to return and live normally in the Valley.
He argued that keeping them confined to transit camps was not a satisfactory long-term solution and said Kashmiri Muslims had not historically been opposed to their presence.
His comments come amid continuing discussions over the security and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley.
Farooq Abdullah Condemns Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal
The National Conference leader also condemned the reported attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in Maharashtra’s Nanded district.
Abdullah described the incident as a serious security lapse and said authorities should take the matter seriously to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He stressed that previous attacks demonstrate the need for continued security assessments and vigilance around political leaders.
Comments on Constitution and States’ Rights
Abdullah also spoke about broader political issues, including what he described as the weakening of constitutional institutions and concerns regarding the rights of states.
Responding to a question about a political group referred to in the discussion as the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’, he said political voices raising concerns about alleged injustices and tragedies should not simply be ignored.
He emphasized that the Constitution should remain supreme and argued that India’s strength comes from its states and their constitutional rights.
Key Points
- Farooq Abdullah questioned why alleged online threats were reportedly targeting Kashmiri Pandit employees specifically.
- He called for an investigation by the Union Home Ministry.
- Alleged threat posters reportedly contained employees’ names, phone numbers and other confidential information.
- Minority employees were reportedly advised to work from home until August 15 as a security precaution.
- The alleged involvement of a militant-linked shadow organisation remains an attribution in the reported material, not an established fact without official confirmation.
- Abdullah criticised the continued reliance on transit camps for Kashmiri Pandit employees.
- He called for meaningful return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.
- He condemned the reported attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal and called it a security lapse.
- Abdullah also raised concerns about constitutional governance and states’ rights.
Bottom Line
Farooq Abdullah’s remarks centre on two issues: the security of Kashmiri Pandit employees in the Valley and the long-term rehabilitation of the community. While questioning the reported selective threats, he has urged authorities to establish who issued them and why particular employees were targeted. At the same time, he argued that Kashmiri Pandits should ultimately be able to return to normal community life rather than remain dependent on segregated transit arrangements.
