Pandits observe Holocaust Day

KS Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 19: Recalling the terrorising moments of January 19, 1990, Kashmiri Pandits pledged today to reject all those return plans that do not take cognisance of political and socio-economic aspirations of the community and expressed their full support to the struggle launched for achieving "Homeland".

Speaking on the function organised by "Panun Kashmir" at Sharika Peeth Sanstha, Subashnagar, to observe Holocaust Day, the speakers expressed their concern on the 'symbolic return' policy envisaged by Mufti government that does not take cognisance of ground situation prevailing in the Valley.

In his inaugural address, Chairman of Panun Kashmir Advisory Committee Prof. M.K. Teng said that Kashmiri Pandits became the prime target of terrorists and fundamentalist forces as they represented the continuation of 5000 year old Indian civilisation in Kashmir and front line resistance to plans of Islamic expansion.

He said that the Kashmiri Pandits do not figure even in the plans of central government policies as the state (government) of India is at war with its own civilisation. The government failed to recognize the ongoing terrorist movement as an onslaught on Indian civilisation.

President ASKPSC Sh. O.N. Trisal reiterated his full support to the Panun Kashmir's struggle for "Homeland" and described it as the only means to end the continuous persecution of the community at the hands of Pan Islamist forces. Mr Trissal condemned the objectionable statement of Legislative Assembly Member Mohammad Shafi Bhat in which he had said that Kashmiri Pandits have no stake in Kashmir. He said that our first stake in Kashmir is our 5000 year old civilisation and symbols of our civilisation like Shankaracharya, Kheerb-hawani, Amarnath that inspired Adi Guru Shanker Acharya and Swami Vivekananda to visit Kashmir.  Mr Trissal described "Kashmir Sentinel" as the political voice of the Pandits and appealed the community brethren to support it.

In his address, Sh. Madhsudhan Bhat, PDP minority cell leader, expressed his support to Panun Kashmir struggle but added that we should not distance our selves from the government. He said that we are dependant on the government for our day to day problems and added that Mufti government was live to the problems of the community.

Ex-MLC and National Conference leader Mr Bushan Lal Bhat described January 19, 1990 as an unfortunate day in his life and held Pakistan responsible for fomenting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the situation is now changed and people have realised the ills of terrorism.

He warned the community to delink itself from the petty political games of Centre and hold dialogue with Muslims on their own.

Speaking on the occasion Sh M.L. Sopori of BJP minority cell said that in the interest of the community and nation we are ready to ignore even the party line. He referred to recent boycott call of elections by BJP minority cell against the party line as it was thought to being not in community's interest. He advised that in the rush for engineering, we should not ignore other fields.

Dr R.L. Bhat, a reputed columnist, in his address, said that there is unanmity among the community on the issue of creation of homeland but till that is achieved we cannot ignore day to day problems the community is faced with. He accused the community leadership for its failure to make the movement a "mass movement" as no efforts are made to involve the community at large scale.

Sh. Roshan Lal Raina , a member of Camp Development Committee, said that healing touch of Mufti government is aimed at the terrorists and this government is indifferent to the problems of the community. He added that community has rejected the return plan as it is aimed at "Divide and Rule".

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bihari Lal Koul of Panun Kashmir cautioned the community of the plan initiated in the name of "reconciliation process," which is aimed at harming the interests and movement of the community. He referred to a recent conference organised at Asia Hotel by "Institute for Reconciliation", in this context.

In his concluding address, Panun Kashmir general secretary Sh. Kuldeep Raina said that we should not be pessimists and ignore the positive points of our efforts. He said that it is the result of community efforts that Kashmiri Pandits are today a prime party to Kashmir problem. Wherever in national or international fora, Kashmir is being discussed the Pandit factor prevails everywhere, he asserted. He said that we should not come to conclusions without going into the reality. He said that it was being debated in every corner that Mattan people have agreed to the return plan of Mufti Sayeed but in fact "Purohit Sabha Mattan", which is the elected and registered body, has rejected the return plan envisaged by the Mufti government. As such, we shall not generalise what is being done by individual vested interest.

He asserted that Panun Kashmir will oppose all those efforts tooth and nail that are aimed at dividing the community in the name of return or otherwise.

The programme was compered by Panun Kashmir coordinator. Sh. Satish Sher and two minutes silence was observed in memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of mother land during 14 years violence.  

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