On the lines of the offer made to Kashmiri militants, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Government is ready to facilitate the return of Sikh youth who took political asylum abroad during militancy in Punjab, provided they give up violence.
“If Sikh youth want to return, having given up militancy, giving up violence, given up the demands of Khalistan, (then) we will certainly facilitate the return of Sikh youth,” he said.
Mr. Chidambaram’s remarks comes two days after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal slammed the Centre for leaving Sikh youths out of the ambit of its proposed move to facilitate the return of Kashmiri militants who have crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) if they shun the path of violence.
The Home Minister said, “If the government of Punjab wishes to draw up a scheme, I will be very happy to consider that.”
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone of country’s first integrated check post, which will provide support facilities to ensure smooth movement of people, goods and transport across the Indo-Pak border.
“When the country is one, what is the harm in giving general amnesty to Sikh youth who want to shun violence and join the mainstream,” Mr. Badal had said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had raised the issue of surrender policy for Kashmir militants during the conference on Internal Security in Delhi earlier this month.
