Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has endorsed MP Subramanian Swamy’s call for capital punishment to perpetrators of the brutal murders, rapes and forced conversion as also full compensation to the Kashmiri Pandits. It fully aligns with one of the key, long standing demands of GKPD.
In a statement issued today GKPD said it is highly encouraged and heartened that the Global Civil Society Movement that has fostered is gaining scale and legitimacy in an unprecedented manner. When eminent personalities such as Kangana Ranaut, Vivek Agnihotri and others declare that they will work to publicise the truth of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide then victory will be ours, the statement added.
It said GKPD also rejects the report published on September 15 with the title ‘Naya Kashmir to have 10 special townships for Kashmiri Pandits’. The article regurgitates an incorrect earlier report of the meeting between GKPD members and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on February 18, 2020 at his residence.
GKPD members presented a memorandum to him which demanded formation of An Advisory Council of Kashmiri Pandits who can work under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs that will jointly come up with a plan for full restorative justice of Kashmiri Pandits. It said the Advisory Council will have representation from mainstream community organizations, youth, women, eminent community think tank, Jagati township, rural and urban representation and overseas representation.
It demanded a single concentrated rehabilitation with employment and other rights enshrined in the Constitution of India for the community, restoration of temples, shrines and community assets including crematoriums, setting up an Enquiry Commission to investigate the cause of genocide and ethnic cleansing with proactive steps to initiate legal proceedings with secure conviction for those who were culpable of crime that led to our genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The Home Minister assured the delegation that rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits continues to be an important part of Government’s agenda in the post August 2, 2019 scenario. At no point during the meeting were ’10 townships’ discussed, it added and termed the news report on 10 townships totally baseless.