Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Holding of protest demonstrations, seminars, public meetings, wearing of black badges and solemnization of hawans marked the observance of 24th Balidan Diwas (Martyrs Day) by Kashmiri Pandits today.
While joint Forum of K P Organizations held a protest demonstration in front of Press Club here, Panun Kashmir led by Dr Ajay Chrungoo organized a seminar to pay tributes to martyrs and PK of Dr Agnishekhar and Kashmira Vahini held a meeting to pay tributes to KP martyrs who laid down their lives during the militant violence in the State. The tributes were also paid to all those nationalist people as well as members of the security forces who attained supreme sacrifices while fighting terrorism in the State.
On the occasion of Martyrs’ Day a Mahayagya was also solemnized by Amar Balidan Trust at Durga Nagar here while Kashmiri Pandit Conference held a demonstration at union capital and its activists wore black badges all over the country as a mark of protest.
The participants in Joint Forum demonstration raised slogans against the apathy of Government towards the displaced Pandits.
Expressing full support to passage of Shrines and Temples Bill that is lying before the Select Committee of the Assembly, they said the temples and shrines are not only the religious beliefs of the indigenous people of Kashmir but also more than 5000 years of continuous cultural ethos. They said the preservation of these temples and shrines for the posterity is a historical responsibility of KPs and all those people who believe in the civilized evolution of mankind.
The Forum leaders expressed concern that some vested interests are trying to dilute the Bill from its present form to accommodate the wishes of trusts managing some of these shrines presently.
They said that the temples of Kashmir are a matter of faith for over seven lakh Pandits and under no circumstances any dilution would be allowed in the passage of the Temples Bill. The outcome of recent Apex Committee meeting in Kashmir demonstrates the non serious attitude of the Government toward the issues of displaced people, they added.
Paying rich tributes to Tika Lal Taploo who laid down this life on this day 24 years back, they said the names Taploo and other martyrs of the community including Pt Prem Nath Bhat will go down with golden letters in the annals of history.
Those who addressed the demonstration included BJP legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria, Party National Executive member and chief spokesperson of the State, Dr Jitendra Singh, Dr Rama Kant Dubey, president VHP, president ASKPC, H L Chatta, president PK, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, H N Jatu president AIKPC, Dr R L Bhat, national vice president JKVM, its state president B L Bhat, D N Kissu of NCMCC, R K Raina of ASKPC, Virender Raina chief spokesperson of Joint Forum, H L Bhat national general secretary JKVM, Kashmiri Lal, Dr A N Pandita, chairman P N B MT, M K Raina, president Jawala Ji and Ashok Braroo, general secretary K P Sabha.
Panun Kashmir senior leaders Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Dr K L Choudhary, Dr M K Teng, Prof M L Koul, Shalinder Aima and P L Raina also paid glowing tributes to martyrs at a seminar at Jammu Club which was presided over by former DGP M M Khajuria.
A large number of KPs attended the seminar to reiterate their resolve for carving out a separate homeland for seven lakh KPs within Valley.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Ajay Chrungoo said that J&K is witnessing the consolidation of regressive forces who are fed by the religious theo- fascism meant to dismantle the edifice of the Indian nation in the State. The direct target outcome of this evil machination is targeting of the non Muslim minorities who are being subjected to the continuous holocaust and genocide.
Panun Kashmir led by Dr Agnishekhar and Kashmira Vahini also observed Martyrs Day today and paid glowing tributes to them at an Sharandanjali programme here today.
The PK activists on the occasion highlighted the importance of this historic day in the political struggle of KPs and reiterated their resolve to fight for restoration of all rights which include the establishment of separate homeland for over seven lakh Pandits within Valley.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) also observed the martyrs Day by organizing a programe at Vipin Garden New Delhi today in which glowing tributes were paid to martyrs including Tika Lal Taploo, Pt Prem Nath Bhat besides the Jawans of security forces who laid down their lives while fighting Jehadis in J&K.
Paying tributes to martyrs, Kundan Kashmiri, president KPC said that they will be remembered for ever for their supreme sacrifices by the community. He while turning down the return formula said that nothing short of separate Kashyap State within Valley with free flow of Indian Constitution was acceptable to the community.
The KPC leaders included M L Bhat, C L Bhat, B N Koul, Sushil Bhat, C L Koul Ashok Raina and Vijay Raina addressed the demonstrators.
The Balidan Diwas was also observed by Kashmiri Samiti Delhi (KSD) under the chairmanship of its president Rakesh Kaul in which the sacrifices of martyrs including Tika Lal Taploo on whose name the day is observed were remembered by the gathering. The speakers also paid rich tributes to the martyrs on the occasion saying that community can never forget their sacrifices.
In memory of Kashmiri Pandits Amar Shaheeds who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the country (Bharat Mata) since militancy prevailed in the State particularly Kashmir, a two day Programme of Amar Balidan Divas was observed by Amar Balidan Trust on September 13 & 14 at Martand Surya Bhawan, Paloura, Jammu.
The Trust arranged “Maha Shradanjli” function on September 13, which was attended by a large number of people. Rich tributes where paid to Martyrs especially Pt. Tika Lal Taploo & Pt Prem Nath Bhat. Swami Kumar Ji was chief guest of this programme & R K Raina of ASKPC was guest of honour Virender Raina national spokesperson of Panun Kashmir, Chand Ji Bhat & Shiban Khaibari paid their floral tributes to the sacrifices of Martyrs.
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) president Sh Hira Lal Chatta also President of the Amar Balidan Trust said that September 14th is dedicated to the memory of Kashmiri Pandit martyrs.
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