KPs observe July 13 as Black Day

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: The Kashmiri Pandits observed July 13 as Black Day today. In this connection, various KP organizations organized protest demonstrations and wore black badges. They also paid homage to the community members and other martyrs including the jawans of security forces who laid down their lives in 1931 violence and during last 26 years of turmoil in Valley.
To observe the July 13 as Black Day All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), a frontal organization of Pandits held a massive demonstration at its headquarters ASKPC Bhawan Durga Nagar here today. It described the day as the Black Day in the history. A large number of community people and prominent KP leaders participated in the protest.
The KP leaders spoke in anguish against the atrocities and tortures inflicted on the Kashmiri Hindu community.
ASKPC president, Ravinder Raina said, this day in 1931 marks the first genocide of the KPs in the Valley and these days also across the Valley there is evident a situation similar to that of July 13, 1931 and community members living in different parts of the Valley have been subjected to grave atrocities and terror. Government has not been able to control the tense situation which gun tottered unsocial elements and separatists created and horrified Pandit community living there by loot, arson, stone pelting and other heinous crimes.
Dr T K Bhat general secretary ASKPC while explaining the Government inaction warned Central Government that if they fail to intervene effectively history shall get repeated and secular fabric of country shall get torn out.
C L Bhat vice president was also critical of inaction and felt astonished to see that tense situation and hype created to make hero of a militant resulted in attacks on minority Hindus transit camps and their properties.
R K Raina ex president ASKPC, Dr (Prof) AN Sadhu, Shiban Khaibari free launcher, J L Pandit, P ML Kaul Badgami, M K Jalali, president Sharika Peeth, A K Koul, T K Jigyasoo.
Joint Forum of KP Organizations observed July 13 as Black Day by organizing a protest demonstration at Durga Nagar.
The Joint Forum led by D N Kissu, Chairman All Displaced Kashmiri Pandit United Forum, Virender Raina, National Spokesman Panun Kashmir, H N Jattu, president AIKPC, Sardar Prem Singh, President Displaced Sikh Forum, G L Koul advisor, P L Sudeshi, Upinder Koul, Vijay Qazi, Ravi Punjabi, Kamal Bagati and others protested against the observance of the so called Martyrs Day by the State administration.
D N Kissu while speaking on the occasion made scathing remarks against the government for the observance of the so called Martyrs Day. He said that it tantamounts to rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiri Pandits. It was July 13, 1931 Kashmiri Hindus were subjected to genocide and mass looting and arson.
Virender Raina national Spokesman Panun Kashmir while speaking on the occasion said that the persecution of Kashmiri Pandits continues. “The brutalities inflicted on the KP settlements in the wake of the killing of terrorist Burhan should stir the conscience of all the civilized world. Kashmiri Pandits are the aborigines of Kashmir and have a natural and inalienable right on the territory of Kashmir. The time for the establishment of a separate homeland in Kashmir for the Kashmiri Hindus has come and the Government must start the process in earnest. Separate Homeland in Kashmir would also secure the Northern frontiers of the country against the machinations of Pakistan and China for all times to come.
The members expressed serious concern about the security situation in Kashmir and urged the Government to take all possible measures to provide security to the KP settlements in Kashmir and also ensure that no further harm is caused to the Amarnath pilgrims.
The members also urged the Government to stop the inhuman practice of observing the so called Martyrs Day and in its place celebrate the day when Indian troops landed in Kashmir to evict the Pakistani raiders from Kashmir.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) observed July13 as Black Day with its activists wearing black badges in Delhi and Jammu as well. On the call of KPC chief Kundan Kashmiri, the activists of the organization also switched off the lights of their residential houses and business establishments for one hour in the evening as a mark of protest against the injuries inflicted to community on this day in 1931. Mr Kashmiri while addressing the meeting in Dwarika New Delhi held in connection with observance of Black Day said the genesis of present turmoil in Valley and genocide of KPs backs date to July 13, 1931 when the seeds of a communal movement were sown in Kashmir.