APRIL 2015

POINT
OUT
CoVeR StoRY
Kher said the the project could be
initiated with an area of "10 square
km" and by building world class
infrastructure in the selected area
which he said could be a "model" for
the country. "Let the first smart city
happen in Kashmir for the Kashmiri
Hindus. Because the people who will be
settling there may in the initial stages
be Kashmiri Hindus but anybody is
allowed to stay there.
"Most of the Pandits are educated
professionals who will settle there. I
don't know who coined the word 'ghetto',
some sick mind must have coined that.
There is a difference between 'ghetto'
and being asked to come and settle
down in the same place," he said.
On being asked whether he would want
"this is not a mere demand.
this is our right and it is
a very right time that the
Prime Minister and home
Minister have come up with
the proposal. they should go
ahead with the plan. Five-six
people should not hold it in
ransom.
the smart city to be marked exclusively
for Pandits, he said, "To start off
Kashmiri Pandits should settle there.
Later other people can come in. We are
not against the Muslims of the Valley."
Kher, a prominent member of the
community, said Pandits could not
return to their native places because
they would not feel "secure" there and
most of their properties have been
occupied, usurped or sold in distress
sale.
"It would not be possible for the 3 per
cent to mingle with the 97 per cent who
drove us out and you can go back to an
area where you have scarred memories.
It's not a Hindu-Muslim issue," he said.
"This is not a mere demand. This is our
right and it is a very right time that the
Prime Minister and Home Minister
have come up with the proposal. They
should go ahead with the plan. Five-six
people should not hold it in ransom," he
said at a press conference.
20
aPrIl 2015