 Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 23: A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits, who had spearheaded the recently- conducted observance of Balidan Diwas as part of the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), met the Home Minister of India, Raj Nath Singh at New Delhi in his North Block Office.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir and the Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba. Raj Nath Singh was presented with the same Memorandum which had been sent to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on 14 Sept 2018.
While presenting our Memorandum, Col Tej K Tikoo, President All India Kashmiri Samaj, articulated the community's view that the present Government at the centre had overlooked the core concerns of our community, despite BJP having asserted a highly nationalistic stand on Kashmir for decades. It was clearly stated by Tej Tikoo that despite the sacrifice of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerji, the issues related to the displaced patriotic community of Kashmiri Pandits were neglected by the BJP Government.
After this, Col Tikoo presented in brief their demands reflected in the Memorandum. These demands were explained in the context of our genocide and subsequent exodus that resulted as a consequence.
After that Sanjay Ganjoo, President Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch ( JKVM) amplified the above issues in specific detail. He explained to the Honorable Home Minister the necessity of taking appropriate steps to protect our temples, shrines, places of pilgrimage , etc., as a large number of these had already been encroached upon by anti-social/ anti-national elements in the Valley. He also told the Honourable Home Minister that Govt can and must institute a judicial commission to ascertain the causes of our exodus and prosecute those who were responsible for the killing of nearly 1500 Kashmiri Pandits in 1989-1991. |
