Maharashtra CM On Kashmiri Pandits Attacks: Won't Leave In Lurch

CM Uddhav Thackeray said Maharashtra stands "firmly" with Kashmiri Pandits amid a spate of civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir, as he voiced concern about targeted attacks.

"The Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra chief minister can only promise that Maharashtra will stand firmly behind Kashmiri Pandits during these difficult times," his office quoted the chief minister as saying.

“Kashmiri Pandits were shown the dream of ‘ghar vapasi’ (resettlement in the Valley), but they are being targeted and killed. The exodus of Pandits is shocking," he underlined, news agency PTI reported.

J&K has been witnessing an increase in civilian attacks - 13 people have been killed by terrorists in 3 months. Many members of the community have reportedly left the Valley with their families.

On Friday, the BJP government had a high-level meeting with top officials. At the meeting, union home minister Amit Shah with Ajit Doval, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, army chief General Manoj Pande, J&K police chief Dilbag Singh in attendance discussed the Amarnath Yatra too, which begins June 30.

Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray - in 1995 - had ensured a “quota in educational institutes in the state for the children of Kashmiri Pandits,” the CM said on Saturday, adding: "Our government is in touch with Kashmiri Pandit leaders and will do everything it can for their protection.”