Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Kashmiri Pandits organized protest demonstrations, public meetings, seminars and held prayer meetings in different parts of country to observe the 26th Balidan Divas today.
The main programmes were held at Jammu and Union Capital where the majority of Pandits are putting up after the mass exodus of the community from Valley in 1989-90. The Balidan Divas is observed in memory of veteran KP leader and former vice president of State BJP Tika Lal Taploo who fell to the bullets of Pak terrorists on this day in 1989 in Summer Capital, Srinagar. This was followed by the selective killings of the members of Hindu minority community forcing the mass exodus of the entire minority Hindus from Kashmir.
The KP organizations including Panun Kashmir, Roots in Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC) and other social and religious organizations of the community observed the day and paid glowing tributes to martyrs all over the country where the members of the community are putting up.
At Jammu Panun Kashmir led by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo observed the Kashmiri Pandit Balidan Divas at Dogra Chowk where a protest demonstration was held by PK activists.
Addressing the protestors the speakers said the Kashmiri Pandit community was made the selected victim of terror and terrorism, murder and mayhem on a large scale resulting in their mass exodus from the Valley in 1989-90. The protesters carrying placards and posters raised slogans against terrorism and apathy of the Government towards the Kashmiri Pandits.
The demonstration was attended by the activists of the Kashmiri Pandit organizations. It was addressed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President-Panun Kashmir, D.N.Kissu, Chairman-ADKPUF, Sardar Prem Singh, President-KSDF, Virender Raina, Spokesperson-Panun Kashmir, Kamal Bagati, Org. Secretary and Sameer Bhat, Convener-Panun Kashmir Youth.
The participants raised slogans against the apathy of the government towards the displaced community for the last more than two decades. Another faction of Panun Kashmir held a seminar at Jammu Club here to observe the Balidan Diwas today. The topic of seminar was current situation in J&K standing upto the new challenges.
The programme was conducted by Shalinder Aima and vote of thanks was proposed by Kuldeep Raina.
On the occasion of Martyrs Day Roots in Kashmir (RIK) held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi where the speakers besides paying tributes to martyrs and Tika Lal Taploo accused the successive governments for betraying the Kashmiri Pandits leading an exiled life for last 26 years completely.
A group of PK activists led by Utpal Kaul paid floral tributes to martyrs at their Smadhi at Sheetal Nath Srinagar early this morning. They took a pledge to continue their struggle for the rights of exiled Pandits.
Panun Kashmir activists also paid tributes to martyrs at New Delhi on the occasion of 26th Balidan Diwas. A programme was organized by Ramesh Manwati senior leader PK in which the speakers recalled the role of martyrs and their contribution.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) observed the day as Black Day both at Jammu and NCR, Delhi. The KPC activists wore black badges and switching off the lights at their residences and business establishments for one hour in the evening as a mark of protest against the holocaust of the community. Paying tributes to Mr Taploo and other martyrs president KPC Kundan Kashmiri said that the history can never forget their role as they sacrificed their lives for the national cause.
KHC led by Advocate M L Thusoo and P L Koul Budgami also observed the Balidan Divas and paid glowing tributes to martyrs on this day. The KHC leaders appealed the all KP organizations to come to a single platform to take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion.
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