Mumbai: On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stated that Maharashtra is fully with the Kashmiri Pandits and will do everything necessary to assist them.
“For the last few days, targeted killing of Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus has been going on in Kashmir Valley. Within a month, nine Kashmiri Pandits were assassinated. Hundreds of frightened Kashmiri Pandits have started fleeing. The whole country is outraged,” stated a release quoting Mr Thackeray.
Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister, expressed great concern over the situation in the valley.
He said that Kashmiri Pandits are literally on the run in Kashmir Valley. “They were shown dreams of returning home, but on their return home, the Pandits are being picked and killed. In this horrific situation, a large number of Pandits started fleeing, which is a shocking as well as disturbing event,” said Mr Thackeray.
At this juncture, as the Shiv Sena party chief and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, I can promise that Maharashtra will stand firmly behind the Kashmiri Pandits in these difficult times”, said Mr Thackeray.
When the Shiv Sena administration in Maharashtra was created in 1995, Shiv Sena head Balasaheb Thackeray made a specific provision in schooling for Kashmiri Pandits’ children in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Maharashtra has always maintained a sensitive relationship with Kashmiri Pandits, noting that the Shiv Sena chief has continuously raised his voice for the protection of Kashmiri Pandits.
“We consider it our duty and look at it with a sense of duty. We are currently closely monitoring the situation in the valley. Talks are also underway with leaders of Kashmiri Pandits. I repeat we will do everything possible for Kashmiri Pandits. They will not be left in the lurch. Maharashtra will do its duty,” assured the Maharashtra CM.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray expressed concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir today, describing the situation as “very alarming” in the wake of recent targeted killings in the union territory.
He went on to say that Maharashtra’s doors are always open to Kashmiri Pandits.
Speaking to ANI on the recent killings of Hindus in the Kashmir Valley, Mr Thackeray said, “The situation in Kashmir is deeply concerning. It’s unfortunate that the situation is repeating again. We expect the Government of India to take strong measures to ensure their protection.”
A bank manager, identified as Vijay Kumar, was shot dead outside his office by terrorists in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Terrorists shot and killed Rajni Bala, a 36-year-old Hindu woman teacher from Jammu’s Samba area, at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam, earlier this week. Terrorists killed two civilians and three off-duty cops in Kashmir last month, including Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat.
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