Kashmiri Pandit delegation meets the Home Minister
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| News and Events |
| Kashmiri Pandit delegation meets the Home Minister of India New Delhi, India September 23, 2018 |
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| A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits, who had spearheaded the recently- conducted observance of Balidan Diwas, met the Home Minister of India, Shri Raj Nath Singh Ji today at New Delhi in his North Block Office. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sh. Hansraj Ahir and the Union Home Secretary, Sh. Rajiv Gauba. Sh. Raj Nath Singh ji was presented with the same Memorandum which had been sent to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, 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 our 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 Sh. 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. After that Sh. Kamal Hak, President Kashmiri Migrant Welfare Association, NOIDA, explained the importance of ensuring that Kashmiri Pandits are resettled in Kashmir in a manner where Indian constitution will have a free flow and where our growth is not hampered by the chains of Article 370 and 35 A. He also told the Honorable Minister that Kashmiri Pandits were the most important stakeholders in Kashmir as we are the original inhabitants of Kashmir with our history going back to many millennia. Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr S K Handoo, President KSS, Faridabad, Dr Raj Kachroo, President KKS, Gurugram and M K Machama, President KP Association, Ghaziabad. During the entire meeting Sh. Raj Nath Singh heard our views with rapt attention and in his brief intervention said that the Central Government was seized of the issues raised by us and he would stay in touch with the community to address these issues. Others who formed part of the delegation included Sh. Manoj Bhan, JKVM, Sh. Munish Jalali, Roots In Kashmir. |
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