We want to migrate, Sikhs tell Advani

"For years, Pakistan’s propaganda on the Jammu and Kashmir had been impressing the world community but after these three incidents, the world is accepting that India’s stand is sound."

Advani, who was accompanied by Union Information and Broadcasting MinisterArun Jaitley, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta,Governor G C Saxena and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, landed here in a makeshift helipad at 11:00 a.m. As the Mi-17 carrying the entourage landed, a large group of villagers encircled the minister and raised the demand for an immediate migration out of the Valley.

"We want migration. We cannot live here anymore," the villagers shouted as Advani was being taken in a procession to the massacre site at Shokeen mohalla.

It was complete chaos as every villager wanted to tell the minister histragic tale. Soon the security personnel threw a cordon around the VIPs. An aged woman, Gurjeet Kaur, who was wailing in a corner said, "can he get my sons back. If not, then what has he come here for?"

The ministers were then taken to the cremation site inside the GurdwaraSamanderhall in Akali mohalla, where the pictures of the massacre victims were displayed on a black board. A representative of the villagers, Giani Rajinder Singh, demanded "immediate mass migration as Kashmir was no longer a safe haven for the community".

"Our women and children are not safe here. Please take us out of this place. We want to migrate out of Kashmir. We don’t want to stay here even for a minute," he said.

Advani assured the villagers that the government will take all possiblemeasures to protect the community. "We have already taken steps to improvethe security in all the 150 Sikh villages in the valley," he said. "Youtoo have to come forward to fight militants. In Doda and Rajouri, only army and paramilitary forces do not fight them, the Village Defence Committees too lend a hand," Advani reasoned and suggested setting up of similar VDCs in the villages here as well.

The Sikh villagers present inside the Gurdwara, straightaway rejected the offer and shouted back, "we don’t want arms. We want to migrate and live in peace somewhere else."

Advani, sensing the mood of the Sikhs, assured them that the Government will take a decision on their demand. "I had come to listen to you and we will do whatever you want," he said.

Later, he visited Jammu and reiterated that the Centre would mobilise world opinion against cross-border terrorism and pursue a pro-active policy. "It is not a war-like or proxy war situation; it’s a real war going on in Kashmir. Both the Centre and the State Government have been jointly fighting it for the last two years," he added.

Farooq keeps mum

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had a tough time here on Sunday as well. Assoon as he appeared at the helipad, the villagers started shouting slogansagainst the government accusing him of failing to provide security to them."Why has he come here? Has he ever bothered to care about the Sikhs," anold woman was shouting. "Why is he asking us to stay here? How manymore massacres does he want before we migrate to a safer place?"another furious villager was saying.

Abdullah was not even called to address the villagers. In fact, he kept mum throughout and even refused to talk to the media. "Please ask your questions to the Home Minister," he told a reporter.