Youth 4 PK intensifies struggle for homeland
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 18: Intensifying their struggle for a separate homeland in Kashmir valley with UT status for rehabilitation of over five lakh exiled Pandits, Youth 4 Panun Kashmir (Youth 4 PK) held a massive protest at Jagti and blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for hours together this evening resulting in a huge traffic jam up to Ban Toll Plaza Sidrah bridge.
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Thousands of displaced Pandits including men, women and children raising slogans in support of Homeland demand participated in the protest rally which was led by senior leaders of Youth 4 PK. The protestors expressed their grave resentment against the stoic silence maintained by successive Governments over the rehabilitation issue of the exiled Pandits who became refugees in their own country 36 years back after the cross border terrorism gripped Kashmir in 1989 -90 and minority Hindus and other nationalist forces became their direct target.
Though some senior police officers who rushed to the spot tried to pacify the agitating mob and persuade them to lift the road blockade, the protestors remained adamant and said that they will not budge till they get an assurance from higher ups in the Government regarding resolution of their long standing issues including permanent settlement in separate homeland in Valley and declaring the Kashmir Pandits as the victims of genocide through a Parliamentary legislation.
The protestors also jostled with the police and did not lift the road blockade which continued up to late in the night. The senior police officers tried their best to pursue the protestors but to no avail.
The protestors said that they have resolved to take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion and will not compromise on separate homeland issue as envisaged in Marg Darshan resolution of 1991 which was endorsed by entire KP community.
They said that over the years, the successive governments continued to play with their sentiments and did not bother to address the long standing issues of the displaced people from Valley. “What can be more paradox than this that lakhs of Kashmiri Hindus became refugees in their own country within one night in 1990 and the Government looked like a mute spectator and left the community to fend for themselves over the years together, said Vithal Choudhary, one of the senior leaders of Youth 4 PK spearheading the present movement.
He said “Enough is enough and community can’t wait any more now”.
“We need a concrete assurance from the Government on our permanent rehabilitation in a separate Homeland within Valley and nothing short of that is acceptable to the community. How long more the Kashmiri Pandits the victims of genocide will languish in camps. The Government should take concrete steps now and in case they continue to maintain silence on the issue as was done in last 36 years, the community will take its struggle to every part of country seeking support of people across India,” he added.
Supporting him, Vithal Choudhary, another senior leader of Youth 4 PK said the community is now committed to launch “a do or die battle”. “One of the ancient civilizations of country has been uprooted for being patriotic Indians and opposed to secessionism but Government continued to be a mute spectator to our plight till date and how long this will go”, he added.
“We waited for long 36 years hoping that community will get justice but we came to conclusion that Government is not totally bothered for us”. “Besides, we demand passage of Bill in Union Parliament declaring Kashmiri Pandits as victims of genocide, enhancement of cash relief, another job package for displaced youth, passage of Shrines and Temples Bill, allotment of quarters to package employees and their safety, removal of encroachments from our land in Kashmir, their shrines and temples and benefit of all Central Government schemes to the displaced Pandits”, said Digamber Raina, another leader of Youth 4 PK.
Rajinder Kachroo incharge J&K Youth 4 KP said his organisation has solicited support from various social and religious organisations including Sadhu Samaj across the country in taking this struggle to logical conclusion. He said Youth 4 PK is committed in its resolve and we hope that the Government will take the cognisance of our plight and start effective measures in rehabilitation of community in the separate homeland within Valley.
During protest one person was injured after fall from a culvert at Kerly Chowk Jagti. He has been identified as Ajay Chaman, son of Chaman Lal of Jagti township. He received grevious injuries and has been shifted to GMC Jammu for treatment.
Earlier, Youth 4 PK in accordance to its already chalked out programme held an Asht Bhairav Jagadamba Mahayagya at Jagti township in which some Maha Manddleshwars, great saints and sages besides the leaders of Hindu and other socio religious organisations across the country took part. The Mahayagya started on January 16 and culminated this afternoon. Thousands of people drawn from different parts of country, Jagti township, other migrant camps and different parts of Jammu participated in the religious function which was held to invoke the blessings of Jagadamba in taking their ongoing struggle for separate homeland to logical conclusion.
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