Banning Loudspeakers, Reciting Hanuman Chalisa Won't Solve Kashmiri Pandits' Issue: Sanjay Raut

Raut's remarks came a day after a Kashmiri Pandit identified as Rahul Bhatt was killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district. 

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. (File Photo/ Getty)

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday responded to the ongoing debate over the use of loudspeakers in mosques saying that reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or switching off loudspeakers will not solve the problems of the Kashmiri Pandits. When asked about the recent killing of Kashmir Pandit in Jammu, Raut said that the Central government must take tough decisions to end the "atmosphere of instability" in the Union Territory.

"Don't raise fingers at Pakistan time and again, what are we doing for the Kashmiri Pandits? Even after the revocation of Article 370, they are not safe and are not able to return to the Valley. Now the common people are not safe, it has no more remained limited to the Pandits," he told reporters earlier in the day. 

Raut's remarks came a day after a Kashmiri Pandit identified as Rahul Bhatt was killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district. 

"The atmosphere of instability that has been created in Kashmir once again will have to be finished by taking harsh decisions. Issues like Hanuman Chalisa and loudspeakers will solve the issue of neither Kashmiri pandits nor Kashmir," the Shiv Sena leader said.

The Sena leader also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah to think about their killings "very seriously".

"The Kashmiri Pandit was a government employee. It is happening time and again. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are very emotional about Kashmiri pandits. There were talks about their return to the Valley. Don't know how many of them returned in seven years. But the ones who were already there are not being allowed to live and they are being killed. The Home Minister needs to think about it very seriously. The killing of the young Kashmiri Pandit is painful," he said.

Kashmiri Pandits working in the Valley staged protests at different places against the killing of Bhat. The protesting Kashmiri Pandit government employees blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway outside Vessu migrant colony in Anantnag district. They lit candles to register their protest.

Protests were also held in Baramulla district where the Pandit members assembled at Pandit Colony Veerwan demanding justice and protection to Kashmiri Pandits working in the Valley.

Last rites of Rahul Bhat were performed at J-K's Bantalab earlier today.

(With inputs from agencies)