The Peoples’ Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of local political parties in J&K, appealed to local Muslims and civil society members on Saturday “to ensure safety of minorities, especially Pandits,” living in the Valley.
“We appeal to the members of the civil society, religious groups and business community to rise to the occasion and understand their responsibility towards the minorities living in the Valley. They should ensure safety and security of their neighbours, especially those who belong to other communities, in these trying times,” CPI(M) leader and Gupkar alliance spokesman M.Y. Tarigami told The Hindu.
The appeal came in the wake of the targeted killing of a Pandit employee, Rahul Bhat, by militants in Budgam two days ago. National Conference president and PAGD chairman Farooq Abdullah chaired a meeting of the alliance at his residence in Srinagar, which was attended by Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, CPI(M)‘s Tarigami and Awami National Conference’s Muzaffar Shah. During the meeting, the PAGD leaders met representatives of Kashmiri Pandits.
