Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 19: Protests and meetings were held by various organizations to observe the sad and unfortunate occasion of exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community from Kashmir on this day in 1990.
Popularly known as ‘Holocaust Day’, the day marked the beginning of the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits on a mass scale, which ultimately culminated in the complete exodus of the aboriginal indigenous people that represented a civilization which was more than 5000 years old.
On the occasion of the ‘Holocaust Day’, Panun Kashmir organized a webinar and took a renewed pledge to rededicate itself to the cause of a separate Homeland in Kashmir. The webinar was organized under the chairmanship of the President Panun Kashmir Virender Raina and among others was attended by Kamal Bagati, General Secretary (Org), Upinder Koul, General Secretary, Sameer Bhatt, Convenor PK Youth, Vimla Chrungoo, Secretary DOPK, Ashok Chrungoo, PK Bhan, Kewal Krishen, Kanwar Pandita and others. Virender Raina while speaking on the occasion said that the struggle of Panun Kashmir has entered the actionable phase where the younger generations are increasingly participating in the struggle for the reclamation of our Homeland in Kashmir. “There is a need to forge unity among the various KP groups in order to present a unified response to the various challenges”, he said and expressed concern that the delimitation commission has not given any recommendation so far regarding the manner of representation of the internally displaced community in the assembly despite representations by various KP groups including Panun Kashmir. Kamal Bagati, General Secretary Organization and Upinder Koul, General Secretary also expressed their views.
A zoom meeting was held by the Kashmiri Pandit Sabha to observe ‘Holocaust Day’. During the meeting, the members expressed their utter disappointment over the fact that inspite of 32 years of having been made to live in exile away from the land of our ancestors, there is no light visible at the end of the tunnel and successive Government have failed to resettle the beleaguered Kashmiri Pandits back in Kashmir. They appealed to the UT Government led by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to announce the robust return and rehabilitation policy for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community as promised by him some time back in his press briefing. Among others present were KK Khosa, President, JL Zutshi Senior Vice President, Ashwani Kaul Vice President, SL Bagati General Secretary, etc.
A meeting of Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj was held under the chairmanship of Kiran Wattal to observe the ‘Holocaust Day’ at its head office in Jammu. The meeting remembered all those KPs, security forces and civilians who were martyred in Kashmir valley during these 32 years of turmoil and terrorism and forced Kashmiri Pandit and Nationalist forces to leave the valley. “We demand that the Government should immediately address the pending concerns and constitute a high level committee to probe the circumstances that led the KP community to exodus”, Kiran Wattal said. Other who participated were Pintoo, Kundal Lal Raina, Ajay Bhat, RL Koul, Anu, BL Dhar, Surinder Bhat, PL Pandita , Ravi, Avtar Krishen, Raj Nath, etc.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) observed Holocaust Day as Black Day. On the occasion, Kundan Kashmiri, President KPC stated that it is unfortunate that KP community continues to be in exile and nothing has been done for the exiled community from the past 32 years. “The responsible elements, who have made Kashmiri Pandits homeless have not been prosecuted, not a single judicial inquiry about the exodus and killings of Kashmiri Pandits were ordered and the community is still living as refugees in its own country”, he added. MK Raina, Tej Pandita , Dr HL Saraf, Sushil Bhat and other KPC leaders urged the exodus minority of KP community to get united and fight for their fundamental rights, one place settlement in valley and against the apathetic attitude of the Central Government and others.
A protest was held by the Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) and Soan Kashmir Front on 32 years of exodus. Wearing black bandages on foreheads and arms, the protestors raised slogans and demanded punishment to the killers of Kashmiri Pandits. While speaking, Shadi Lal Pandita said that temples and houses of the Kashmiri Pandits were set on fire and properties and religious places of the community members have been illegally grabbed. “What we lost during these 32 years should be restored to us”, he demanded. Those who participated in the protest were Shuban Ji Raina, Rakesh Ambardar, Rakesh Tickoo, Charanjeet Singh, Mohan Krishan Tickoo, Vijay Bakshi, etc.
On the 32nd anniversary of mass exodus from the Kashmir Valley, Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha staged a demonstration. On the occasion, KKHMS led by its Chairman-cum-President Er Ramesh Chander Mahajan along with members paid homage to martyrs who were killed by the communal forces. A two minute silence was also observed on the occasion. The Members urged upon the Union Government to set up tribunal to probe of exodus and killing and constituted enquiry commission against anti-national elements responsible for killing of these innocent people.
National Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Youth Wing of NCP Er Rishi Kilam while talking to media persons said that 19th January 1990 was a dooms day for Kashmir Pandit community when they were told to leave the valley within 24 hours. This was the day when Kashmirayat was murdered and the sinful act by the anti national elements was exposed, he said. He said that each and every KP migrant should be taken into confidence before the announcement of return package. The viable solution for this issue is to go for one time settlement with adequate financial assistance, he asserted.
A large group of Kashmiri Pandits from Delhi-NCR region organized a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to observe the 32nd year of exodus from Kashmir valley. The protestors remembered the dark night of 19 January 1990, when the community was thrown out of valley leaving behind hearth and homes. This was perpetrated under Islamic Jihad unleashed by Pakistan. The pandits under one banner displayed placards in a silent protest depicting their plight and recalled the horrors of the forced exile and the happenings thereafter, living in different parts of the world. The protest was organized and led by Ravinder Pandita, a notable activist and Head of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir, who stressed the need for the Government to take practical steps in consultations with the community for their safe return. Activist Des Raj Koul, Sushil Hashia of Faridabad and many others also expressed their views. Later, a memorandum listing demands of relief and rehabilitation was also submitted to Prime Minister and Home Minister.
AIMCCC observed ‘Holocaust Day’ at Jagti Nagrota. While speaking, Secretary of the AIMCCC demanded holiday on January 19 every year as we lost our land, culture, properties and other things on this day. “Government has failed to settle our community in our native land”, Secretary added.
Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) held protest to observe ‘Holocaust Day’ and called upon the Government to involve Pandits in formulating a comprehensive return plan for them. RK Bhat, President YAIKS and North India Coordinator for GKPD who led the protest demonstration focused on some important and burning issues which includes formation of Apex Committee of Kashmiri Pandits under the chairmanship of Home Minster, political empowerment to the displaced community in new reorganization of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir with the reservation of four Assemble seats and one in Parliament House, protection and preservation of temples and shrines in Valley on the pattern of Gurdwara Prabandhan Committee and Muslim Awqaf Board and to prepare comprehensive return and rehabilitation roadmap for displaced community after having proper feedback from the real community representatives. Others who addressed the gathering includes B K Bhat, Sanjeev Koul, Manoj Handoo, Sanjay Raina, Kamal Tak, Babita, Vishal and Ashwani Kak.
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