Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad today regretted that the community which nursed Kashmir with its blood for centuries together was forced to flee from their native land known as paradise on earth.
Addressing the function orgnanised by Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) at Police Auditorium here today in connection with culmination of its year long centenary celebrations, Mr Azad said Kashmiri Pandits have played a remarkable role in the development of Kashmir and making it a paradise on earth.
But it is unfortunate that the community was forced to flee from this paradise due to unavoidable circumstances in 1989-90 and take refugee in other parts of the country.
Mr Azad said every one belonging to any faith prays that he should have a place in heaven after his or her death but how painful it would be for those people who were thrown out from a virtual heaven on this universe.
Mr Azad said during the turmoil, many Muslims also had to leave the Valley but the Pandits had to leave enmass due to fear psychosis while Muslims migrated in groups.
He said everyone has his history but the reason for migration was that the threat of militants loomed large at that time.
The Union Minister while referring to K P Sabha president, K K Khosa’s speech highlighting the role of Sabha in the upheavals in 1931, 1953 and then in 1990, said that there was turmoil in 1931 and 1953 but present one remained for a long time and for a quarter century which is the major part of one’s life.
He referred to the killings of innocent people and named the former Director of Radio Kashmir Lassa Koul whom he described his personal friend.
Recalling his close association with Kashmiri Pandits during his college and university days in Kashmir, the Union Minister said he didn’t know who is a Hindu and who is a Muslim at that time. “Even in University elections I always got elected by Hindu votes as there was always division in Muslim vote’’, he added.
He said with the mass migration of Pandits, Kashmir has become crippled today.
Mr Azad regretted that the ray of light which Mahatma Gandhi had seen in Kashmir during the communal riots of Kashmir has diminished now “and it is our dream to revive this ray of light and we all at Government and public level have to work in this regard so the Pandits will return to their native land’’.
Mr Azad said many steps were taken regarding return of Pandits to Valley when he was Chief Minister of the State and before that. “My period was small as CM in the State and my agenda was big which I could not complete in this short period despite trying to bring the work culture and start work in three shifts’’, he added.
He said “the three shifts were not for engineers and labourers only but this proposal applied to me also as myself worked in three shifts and it was during my tenure as CM of the State that I slept for a very less time’’.
He said as the situation had deteriorated and corruption was at peak at that time, it was difficult to put the situation back on track. “But still we achieved success to a great extent in this regard’’, he added.
Mr Azad, while stressing on return of Pandits said that situation is far better in Valley now and for last 10 to 12 years no one was killed on the name of religion or Party.
He said still Jammu and Kashmir is a safe place compared to other parts of country so far as crime rate is concerned. There is no kidnapping like crimes in Kashmir, he added.
He allayed the fears of migrants that after their return they will lose the quarters at Jammu and said that like official Darbar move they can also visit and pass the chilly days of winter here after there return to Valley.
In his address K P Sabha president, K K Khosa highlighted the historical evolution of Sabha. He paid tributes to the vision of Maharaja Partap Singh who saw a distinct culture and social potential in Kashmiri Pandit community and authorized the formation of this oldest Sabha in Jammu.
He also highlighted the role of prominent people who headed the Sabha and those dignitaries who visited it time to time.
Mr Khosa said the dislocation of community from Valley in 1989-90 was a challenge to the Sabha and its members rose to the occasion to help helpless brethren. The Sabha has been on forefront since then and is relentlessly providing relief in the field of education and economic sustenance to the poor sections of the community, he added.
He, while highlighting the problems of the community stressed on implementation of PM’s employment package in toto and passage of Temples and Shrines Bill.
He demanded earmarking of one Assembly seat in erstwhile three districts of the Valley for Pandits, one seat in Parliament, strengthening facilities to Jagti inmates and naming KP Sabha as heritage institution.
Mr Azad and other dignitaries also released the souvenir of the Sabha on the occasion.
Later Mr Azad felicitated various KP personalities who have made remarkable contribution in their respective fields.
They included Prof Sudhir Kumar Sopori, Vice Chancellor, JNU, New Delhi, Prof R N K Bamezai, former VC Mata Vaishno Devi University, Padam Shri Bhajan Sopori, Prof Kailash Mehra Sadhu, renowned singer, Padamshri Moti Lal Kemo, Padamshri Rajinder Tickoo, Padamshri J L Koul, and Prof T N Ganjoo a renowned scholar of Shaivism.
The Sabha president also felicitated Mr Azad later. The vote of thanks was proposed by Ashok Braroo and the programme was conducted by P K Raina.
A variety of cultural programmes and skits were also presented on the occasion and they included a play written by Manoj Sheri and another produced by Kishen Langoo.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
