Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Kashmiri Pandits organised various programmes across the Jammu today to observe 30th Balidan Diwas and paid glowing tributes to former BJP vice president and a fire brand KP leader, Tika Lal Taploo who was martyred on this day at Srinagar by Pak trained militants. Besides, Taploo tributes were paid to thousands of other KP martyrs and jawans of security forces and other nationalist people who laid down their lives in fighting terrorism in different parts of the State over these years.
On the occasion of Martyrs Day, Panun Kashmir organised a convention on the theme “The New Epoch in Jammu and Kashmir: Challenges and Tasks” in two sessions. This year’s Martyrs Day was dedicated to Dr Mohan Krishan Teng an eminent political scientist and Chairman, PK Advisory Committee.
The convention started with recitation of theme song “Asey Chu Tarun Kashmir” by eminent singer Prof Kailash Mehra Sadhu, well known singer Naina Saproo Trisal also gave her soulful presentation and cultural session that included recitation of the bhajans of legendary master Zind Koul by his great grand daughter , Renu Lata Kaul, Nirmal Kaul and Palavi Kaul.
Col (retd) R S N Singh a renowned strategic expert was the chief guest on the occasion. He said “With the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A a new phase has started. It was just seven percent population of Kashmir Valley that has hijacked the governance and injected subversion into it. This infused arrogance of subversion and created a lunching pad for Jehad,. During 70 years Article 370 and 35A nurtured it,. With the abrogation of controversial articles we are for the first time on defensive and upholding the national interest”, he added.
Kunbzang Namgyal, president, Ladakh Buddhist Association who was the guest of honour said Kashmiri Pandits and Ladakhis have been in the forefront of the political re-organisation of the State for years. “ We are thankful to Central Government that Ladakh has been granted a long pending status of UT and with the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A Indian nation has been upheld in Jammu ,Kashmir and Ladakh”, he added.
He said LBA stands shoulder to shoulder with PK in its demand for carving out a separate homeland within Kashmir for the reversal of genocide.
Ankur Sharma chairman Ikkjutt Jammu said GoI has to legitimize the rule of law in the State and after the bifurcation of the State there is need to acknowledge the genocide of KPs by Jehadis of Kashmir.
Second session started with the dramatic adaption of the Arjan Dev Majboor’s poem on KP genocide by Dr Sudhir Mahajan, president Samooh Theatre.
Dr Kshema Kaul an eminent writer in her address aid KPs are torch bearers of nationalism and PK is the expression of Swachand Bhiarava that has challenged Jihad at all fronts and ensured its defeat.
Chairman PK, Dr Ajay Chrungoo in his address said “Articles 370 and 35 A were the continuation of Islamic State on the soil of India to wreck the nation from within. It was the first step towards the reclaiming the Indian nation in the State and demolishing the Jehadi State requires creation of PK and we will not rest till the goal is achieved”, he added.
Dr Agnishekhar, convener, PK said the struggle for homeland in Kashmir is reclamation of Bharat in Kashmir. “We are witnessing the creation of PK very soon as historical forces are converging to defeat the Jehadis”, he added.
Hira Lal Bhat a social activist said KPs will not budge till the goal of homeland is achieved. Vote of thanks was proposed by Bihari Lal Kaul, secretary PK.
Another function was organised by All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) at its headquarters, Durga Nagar where glowing tributes were paid to community members who laid down their lives in 1931 and last 30 years of terrorism.
Large number of people of the community attended the programme and paid floral tributes to the martyrs. Those who paid tributes to martyrs included Adv Kashmiri Lal, Shiban Khybri, journalist, Bharat Bushan Bhat of Zeshta Devi Prabandhak Committee, Prof Virender Rawal, M L Bhat, S L Koul, Kuldeep Raina, T K Jigyasoo, Pran Pandita, P L Shangloo.
President, ASKPC, advocate Ravinder Raina while speaking on the occasion lauded the bold steps taken by the leadership of the country in correcting the past blunders. He however requested the Government that the steps be taken to mitigate the sufferings of the displaced Pandits who are the worst victims of terrorism.
Shiban Khybri said the KPs are worst victims of exodus, ethnic cleansing and genocide and persons responsible for the same be brought to book.
Dr T K Bhat general secretary ASKPC said that after the abrogation of controversial article and reorganization of the State no decision will be acceptable without involvement of displaced persons.
On the occasion of 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of Pt. Tika Lal Taploo, senior KP leader and senior vice president of BJP, Ashwani Chrungoo State spokesperson BJP visited Sheetal Nath Srinagar and paid tributes to martyrs there. He was accompanied by Rakesh Koul , TAC Mattan, Vir Saraf incharge BJP South Kashmir, Satish Kumar Thakur and Sanjiv Singh Billowria. They paid floral tributes to martyrs and cleansed the Samadhi with holy water. In his address Ashwani Chrungoo said that Kashmir has witnessed a horrible time during the last three decades in which thousands of people got killed in the madness of terrorism. This dubious chapter of history brought a bad name to Kashmir and Kashmir society and the biggest victim of the mayhem have been indeed the indigenous people of Kashmir the Kashmiri Pandits. However the recent decision of Government in abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 a with reorganization of State will pave way for the rehabilitation of community as per their geo-political aspirations.
Martyrs Day was also observed by Kashmiri Khatri Hindu Maha Sabha under the leadership of its president, Er Ramesh Chander Mahajan. The gathering paid rich tributes to the martyrs and said that their sacrifices will not go waste.
Another function was organized by Amar Balidan Trust under the leadership of its president, A K Raina in which rich tributes were paid Amar Shaheed Tika Lal Taploo and other martyrs. Others who paid tributes to martyrs included S K Bhat, secretary of the Trust, Manmohan Koul, R K Bhat, M K Tickoo, P L Wali, A K Pandita, Rakesh Suri and Subash Chatta.
Balidan Diwas was also observed in Delhi by Kashmir Samiti led by Sameer Chrungoo in which the activists of RIK and other organisations participated and paid glowing tributes to martyrs. Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) led by Kundan Kashmiri also observed Balidan Diwas in Union Capital and paid tributes to martyrs.
Kashmiri Pandits residing in Lucknow also paid tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir under the banner of Panun Kashmir.
Kachru, spokes person of ‘Panun Kashmir’ said that this day of September 14 is being observed by Kashmiri Hindus as the ‘Kashmiri Hindus Martyrs Day’ (Balidan Diwas) since 1989 in commemoration of the persecution that was inflicted upon the community. Kachru said, ‘we pay homage to those brave men, women, the Indian Security Forces who sacrificed their lives to save us’.
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