Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday staged a protest demanding the State and Central government to take the community members into confidence before finalizing any decision on their return to the Valley. They also pressed for setting up a commission to probe the “genocide” which led to their exodus.
Members of the community, who gathered in large numbers at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, demanded that the Jammu and Kashmir Government should reopen prosecution cases against all those involved in the killing of the Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley following the outbreak of militancy.
Many of the protesters wore black T-shirts and bands while they shouted slogans against the Hurriyat Conference and separatist leaders. Their arrests were also sought during this protest.
The general secretary of Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, Manoj Bhan, says, “Whatever decision the Centre or the state government takes, they must talk to the Kashmiri Pandits first. No separatist should be allowed to intervene in matters relating to Kashmiri Pandits.”
They also called for a commission of inquiry to pin-point responsibility on perpetrators of “genocide” against them.
“When I see all the terrorists on the streets of Kashmir, then what is the difference between the previous and this central government. The biggest problem is that the central government is trusting the Chief Minister….who says he is thankful to Pakistan after the peaceful elections,” says CBFC board member Ashoke Pandit, who flew from Mumbai to Delhi for participating in the protest.
(Cover Image: DeccanCronicle)
Tags: Kashmiri Pandits
