JAMMU: Kashmiri Pandits on Thursday staged a protest on the occasion of Holocaust Day in front of Raj Bhawan here and blamed the successive governments for their “failure” to punish the militants who killed hundreds of their community members in the Valley in the 1990s.
A joint protest was staged by various Kashmiri Pandits’ organisations in front of Raj Bhawan here on a call of the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC).
Displaced Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee from Kashmir valley to Jammu and other states in the early 90s soon after the outbreak of militancy in the state, observe this day as their Holocaust Day.
Apart from the ASKPC, the All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), Panun Kashmir, All Displaced KP United Forum, JK Democratic Front, Sampuran Kashmiri Sangathan, Jagti Coordination Committee, NC Minority Cell, BJP Minority Cell, Sharika Peeth Sansthan, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch and other social organisations took part in the protest here.
H N Jatu, President AIKPC, Vinod Pandit Chairman APMCC, M Y Yogi, President National Conference Minority Cell, Kuldeep Raina, President Samajik Vikas Sansthan, Presidents of Jagti town, TRT Nagrota, Muthi Camp, Purkhoo Camp, B .L Bhat Ex MLC, Kashmiri Lal PNBMT were also present.
Holocaust Day was observed by the All Migrant Camp Coordination Committee at the Jagti township.
The APMCC observed Holocaust Day at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Led by the Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), Kashmir Samiti Delhi, Roots in Kashmir (RIK) and Panun Kashmir, the protesters demanded that their human rights be restored as they had faced discrimination over the years.
Meanwhile, observing the day by organising a seminar with the theme ‘Ek Bharat Abhiyan-Kashmir Ki Aur’, the Panun Kashmir warned the Centre about Kashmir becoming like Syria or Afghanistan and passed a resolution reiterating the necessity for a separate homeland for Kashmiri Hindus.
All of them unanimously endorsed the Separate Homeland Demand as envisaged in the Margadarshan Resolution of 1991.The Panun Kashmir reiterated the necessity for a separate homeland for Kashmiri Hindus to the north and east of the Vitasta river in Kashmir.
“J&K is fast turning into an ungoverned territory like Syria and Afghanistan and efforts must be made by the GoI (Government of India) to devise a mechanism to give a death knell to those who are out to dismember India,” the resolution passed in this regard said.
BJP lawmaker Surinder Ambardar and Udhampur MLA Pawan Gupta, a former minister in the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir, took part in the seminar among others.
Ambardar appreciated Panun Kashmir’s role in highlighting the plight and agony of Kashmiri Hindus over the last 27 years. Later, he told reporters that the government should talk to the representatives of Panun Kashmir.
Founder of the Sri Ram Sena Pramod Muthalik talked about the “threat of growing Islamic fundamentalism” in India and claimed that there were “5,000 Kashmiris in the making”.
“A serious resurgence needs to shape to thwart the designs of the forces inimical to the Sanatan Hindu Civilisation,” he added. Former DGP M.M Khajooria talked about the “havoc” inflicted by the religious fanatics on the minorities of the State.
Tapan Ghosh, a nationalist ideologue from West Bengal, said the religious cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus was a “red signal” for the entire nation.
Academician Kashi Nath Pandita, Agnishekhar, Convener, Panun Kashmir, former head of the History department of Jammu University Hari Om and others spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Panun Kashmir, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits has reiterated its demand for a separate Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits to preserve and protect its ethnic culture, as per Margdarshan Resolution of 1991. Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) observed 19th January as Black Day at New Delhi. Kundan Kashmiri KPC Chief stated that Exodus Day is unforgettable remembrances of the past which have left indelible imprint on the minds of Kashmiri Pandits.
M.K. Raina Vice President KPC, Tej Pandita Vice President KPC, Susheel Bhat, Sanjay Raina, Vice President M.L Raina, Organizing Secretary KPC , R.L Raina, Secretary KPC, Surrender Bhat KPC youth leader, Nanaji, M.L Mattoo, K.L Zuthsi Romesh Pandit, B.L Koul and others were also present.