2,000 Muslim families living as migrants in Jammu: Minister

JAMMU - There are more than 2,000 Kashmiri Muslim families living as migrants in Jammu, a state minister said Tuesday.

Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, replying to a question by Peoples Democratic Party’s Syed Bashrat Bukhari in the state legislative assembly, said the government was looking after all migrants — Kashmiri Pandits, Muslims and Sikhs.

“While there are 38,149 Kashmiri Pandit families registered as migrants, 2,168 Muslim families and 1,749 Sikh families were also registered as migrants with the office of the relief commissioner in Jammu,” he added.

Normally, the term Kashmiri migrants brings into focus the Kashmiri Hindus, a microscopic minority of the valley. There were, however, Muslims and Sikhs too.

Several Muslim families fled the valley in 1990s under fear of militants.

Bhalla said the government is committed to their return and rehabilitation.