Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: Sanjay K. Tickoo, president, Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS), and Sandeep Koul, youth activist have broken their fast-unto-death at the Shri Sidhi Vinayak Ganesh Mandir, Ganpatyar Habba Kadal, Srinagar, yesterday at 8:30 pm, following the assurance of Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar. The DC Srinagar who visited the venue of fast yesterday handed over a written assurance to the KPSS president that the demands projected by his organisation will be addressed promptly and taken to the logical conclusion, a handout issued by the organisation today said.
It said this visit by the senior Government official was preceded by emissaries of the Chief Secretary as well as the Additional Deputy Commissioner having visited the venue a number of times to negotiate with the KPSS president in the last two days. So the fast has been called off after 248 hours.
Politically, never before have major political parties in the erstwhile State ever taken a united stand censuring the local Government and the Central administration for its apathy towards Valley-based “non-migrant” Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Hindus. KPSS wish to compliment the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), the Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), the Jammu & Kashmir Indian National Congress (JKINC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) and the CPI-M for their vocal and written support to Valley based Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Hindus at this hour of need, the statement said.
KPSS complimented All India Kashmiri Samaj, Delhi, Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, Jammu, Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, Jammu and Citizens for Justice and Peace, Mumbai, Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) for their unconditional support to our efforts and struggle against DMRR&R Department for sabotaging rehabilitation of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir valley.
Many non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Hindus living in Kashmir valley joined the hunger strike. KPSS also complimented all those regular participants who stood by KPSS pledge and made it successful on ground zero, all those well-wishers who extended their support and efforts at their personal level and local civil society groups who expressed solidarity and extended support to our organization during this hour of need.