Houston: PM Modi Assures Kashmiri Pandits New Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a special interaction with a 17-member delegation of Kashmiri Pandits here and assured them of building a new Kashmir which would be for everyone.

The delegation,which included Kashmiri Pandits from across the US, met PM Modi in Houstonafter his arrival to participate in Howdy Modi event.

Moditold the delegation, "Kashmir mein naee hava bah rahee hai (New winds areblowing in Kashmir) and we will all build a new Kashmir together that will befor everyone."

The governmentof India has revoked the special status on August 5 given to Jammu and Kashmirand bifurcated it into two union territories.

Modi alsothanked the community for their patience for over 30 years.

Ministryof External Affairs Spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar earlier tweeted that theKashmiri Pandits expressed support for the steps taken by the Indian governmentfor the progress of India.

In a Tweet, Kumar said, "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 the empowerment of every Indian."

The delegationalso thanked the Prime Minister for the move and said that their 700,000community members were indebted to his government.

A memorandumwas also presented to the Prime Minister by the delegation requesting him toset up a task force under the Indian Home Ministry to bring the communitytogether, develop the region and repatriate Kashmiri Pandits.