Anupam Kher to work for empowerment of Kashmiri Pandits

Jammu, April 11 (IANS) Bollywood actor Anupam Kher Saturday vowed to work for the empowerment of exiled Kashmiri Hindus and for their return to their homeland with 'honour and dignity'.

Kher was speaking at a conference here to draw 'global attention toward the burning issues confronting the Kashmiri Pandits', who fled the Kashmir Valley in early 1990s as Muslim militancy peaked, at times targeting members of the community.

'My friends and relatives suffered and, therefore, as a member of the community, it is my duty to work for the community, take them back to the Valley with honour and dignity,' said Kher, himself a Kashmiri Pandit.

He said successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir 'made so many promises, but delivered none. The solution to this is to gain power. The change and empowerment will come through power.'

'I am not joining politics. But working for the community is different,' he maintained.

The conference, organized by Kashmiri Pandit organistions, was attended, among others, by leading journalist and Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra.

Some 300,000 Hindus have fled the Valley and have been living in Jammu and other parts of the country.