India’s PM Narendra Modi met a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits in Houston on the first day of his six-day US visit and ahead of the maga “Howdy Modi”. The delegation “unequivocally supported” the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and it being made part of the rest of the country.
the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted. “In Houston, a delegation of the Kashmiri Pandit community met the Prime Minister. They unequivocally supported the steps being taken for the progress of India and empowerment of every Indian,”
Surinder Kaul, representing Kashmiri Pandit community, told reporters that PM Modi assured him during their talks that the government will build a “new Kashmir”.
“We thanked him on behalf of the 700,000 Kashmiri Pandits all over the globe for such a historic decision. We assured him that our community will work with the govt to fulfill your dream for a Kashmir which is peaceful, full of growth where people are all happy,” Kaul said.
In a memorandum presented to PM, the community requested PM Modi to constitute a task force or an advisory council under the Ministry of Home Affairs to bring together community leaders, subject matter experts, and key stakeholders to help in the development of a plan to repatriate Kashmiri Pandits to the region.
Submitting the memorandum, the Sikh community requested the PM to address the issues of – 1984 sikh genocide, dedicating Delhi airport to Guru Nanak Dev International Airport, Article 25 of Indian Constitution and Anand Marriage Act, Visa and Passport renewal of asylees. https://t.co/5vmkwTGIGT pic.twitter.com/l5bguZuWvB
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2019
PM Modi also met a delegation of Sikhs and members of the Dawoodi Bohra community. “The Dawoodi Bohra community felicitates PM @narendramodi in Houston. They recall Modi’s visit to Indore last year to attend a programme of their community as well as highlight Modi’s association with Syedna Sahib,” the PMO said.