Kashmiri Pandits raise demands of building a smart city for them in the valley

An organisation representing Kashmiri Pandits urged the central government to announce a smart city in Kashmir on Saturday. While strongly advocating the need for such a township for the displaced community members, the organization described claimed that the Pandits were living a life of refugees in their own country.

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rahul mishra
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Kashmiri Pandits raise demands of building a smart city for them in the valley

Smart city

An organisation representing Kashmiri Pandits urged the central government to announce a smart city in Kashmir on Saturday. While strongly advocating the need for such a township for the displaced community members, the organization claimed that the Pandits were living a life of "refugees in their own country". 

"We were expecting that the Modi government would have announced a smart city for displaced community in the third round announcement of 27 more smart cities. But unfortunately we have again been ignored despite the fact that we are the worst victims of the ongoing terrorism and are living as refugees in our own country for the last 26 years," YAIKS president Ram K Bhat said here. 

"A total of 60 out of 100 smart cities have been announced this year without any consideration of KP community," he added. "We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Housing and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu that as per their assurances they should announce the smart city for displaced community without any delay," he added. The organisation said the government has sent out "feelers" of rehabilitation packages but never drawn any comprehensive long term plan for repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits, he added. 

Kashmir Kashmiri Pandits refugees smart city