Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27: Extending full support to the passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill, the renowned cine star and a member of Indian Civil Society Anupam Kher today said that the issue will be taken up with concerned quarters.
Addressing a programme organized by Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust on the occasion of 26th Martyrdom Day of Amar Shaheed Pt. Prem Nath Bhat at Women College Gandhi Nagar near here, today, he said passage of Shrines Bill will be an important step for confidence building among displaced Pandits from Valley.
He said entire Pandit community is for the passage of the Bill and government should accept this demand without further delay now.
The day is being observed as Chetna Divas by the KP community as on this day way back in 1990 Pt. Prem Nath Bhat a well known social activist, freelance journalist, an advocate and a KP leader fell to bullets of the militants as he strongly advocated for Indian philosophy and ethos in Kashmir.
Mr Kher said that he is talking about entire nation when there is any problem any where and being a Kashmiri Pandit why can’t he talk about the rights of his own community which is leading an exiled life for last 26 years now.
He said the displaced Pandits should loudly talk about their rights and keep their scars green but at the same time they should be ready to face their future challenges also.
He said Kashmiri Pandits despite facing many odds during the turmoil have shown the entire world that they will not compromise on self esteem at any cost and come with a begging bowl before any body.
Mr Kher however appealed the community that it should not only highlight their scars but also think about future and work for the bright days of their children.
He said Kashmir belongs to Pandits and they have every right on Kashmir and whether in any part of country or globe we have to preserve our cultural identity. He said that he has been telling his wife Kiran Kher who is BJP MP from Chandigarh to raise the issue of Pandits in Parliament so that these hapless people can get justice.
Addressing the programme film maker Ashok Pandit said that he as well as Mr Kher fully back the demand of granting ID status to Pandits. “This is a genuine demand as we are not migrants because we have not come of our own but were forced to leave the Valley by militants and hence be declared as internally displaced people’’, said Mr Pandit.
Earlier the issues were raised by Shiban Khebri a well known free lancer who was the main community speaker on the occasion. He, while highlighting the problems of the displaced Pandits strongly advocated for the grant of IDP status to displaced Pandits from Valley and demanded passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill.
He expressed serious concern that successive governments played a truant with the community on the name of the Bill despite the fact that the sentiments of Pandits putting up in different parts of country as well as abroad are attached to these shrines and temples which are the cultural centers and a link to our roots.
Swami Kumar Ji of Geeta Satsang Ashram also spoke on the occasion and asked the Pandits to fight for their rights unitedly.
The programe was compared by M K Bharat, a well known scholar. He also read a poem on the occasion. The speakers also paid glowing tributes to Pt Prem Nath Bhat and recalled his services to the community and country as a whole. They said that Prem Nath Bhat had made fore-caste about the Kashmir turmoil and warned the Government of the time both at State as well as Centre of impending dangers through his write ups published in various newspapers and periodicals. But the Government failed to take cognizance of the same that led to present crisis in the State and mass exodus of Hindu minorities from Valley as well as other parts of Jammu region.
On the occasion two martyrs were presented Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Award posthumously. They included Shaheed Avtar Krishan Pandit S/O Maheshwar Nath Pandit of Tehsil Rahama Baramulla Kashmir and Veer Ji Bhat , S/O Dwarika Nath Bhat of Nagam Budgam Kashmir. The awards were presented to their family members by Mr Kher and Pandit.
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