Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: Protest demonstrations, taking out processions and public meetings marked the observance of 24th Martyrs Day across the country by displaced Kashmiri Pandits today.
A massive demonstration was held by Panun Kashmir in front of Press Club here in which hundreds of the displaced Pandits including a sizeable number of women took part to register their protest against the Government’s continued apathy towards the displaced Pandits leading an exiled life for last 24 years now.
On this day in 1989 a veteran KP leader and former vice president State BJP Tikka Lal Taploo was assassinated by the militants triggering the exodus of over three lakh Kashmiri Pandits from Valley. Since then the Pandits are observing this day as a day of mourning and as a day of resolve for reclaiming the lost homeland.
Addressing the demonstrators at Press Club, PK chairman Dr Ajay Chrungoo delineated the contours of a very intense destabilization process unleashed on the displaced Pandits community both by separatists and the Government at Centre and the State.
He said on one side the extreme threat to the lives and freedom of the KP employees in the Valley is being deliberately overlooked and ignored by the Government and on the other side the biggest camp for displaced people at Jagti near here has been converted into a zone of attrition for Kashmiri Hindus who are facing water crisis and on whom longest power cuts have been imposed.
Termed it human rights violation he said under such heat the people at Jagti are without electricity and water and this is a shame for the Governments both at Delhi and in the State.
Dr Chrungoo said on the Martyrs Day KPs have resolved to stand up to this new destabilization and apprise to the world and the nation how the Government creates a situation of attrition on its own people to make them conform to a policy which is seeking a compromise with the separatists and the fundamentalists in the State.
On the occasion a solemn pledge was taken to accelerate struggle for taking the homeland movement to its logical conclusion. Others who addressed the demonstration included Pt O N Trisal, a member of Advisory Council PK, P L Raina a social activist and member Apex Committee, B L Bhat senior KP leader and Kulsi Pandita a social activist.
On the occasion of Balidan Divas today the Joint Forum of KP Organisations organized a protest demonstration outside the Raj Bhawan, here.
The demonstration was attended by the activists of the Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit organizations. It was addressed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President-Panun Kashmir, H.L.Chatta, President-ASKPC, D.N.Kissu, Chairman-NCMCC, R.K.Raina, Senior Vice President-ASKPC and Virender Raina, Spokesperson-Joint Forum.
The participants raised slogans against the apathy of the Government towards the displaced community for the last more than two decades. The protesters expressed their full support to the people sitting on dharna in Jagti Township and also at the Relief Commissioner’s office. The demand for enhancement of relief has already been accepted by the Cabinet and there is no reason why such a delay is manipulated by the Government. The displaced people are the primary victims of terrorism in Kashmir and it is the duty of Government to arrange for their relief and rehabilitation. It is ironic that right to life and right to health are being denied to the people in the Jagti Township when their water and electricity supplies are heavily curtailed.
The community members living in NCR gathered at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat along the sacred ‘Jyots’ brought in procession from different pockets where the community members are living in exile. Prayers were offered at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi who had seen a ray of hope in Kashmir in 1947. It is total darkness out there in Kashmir at present. Dark clouds of fanaticism, intolerance, violence and religious fundamentalism has engulfed the State and Governments are silent spectators. In many cases Government institutions are playing dirty role of facilitation radicalization of Kashmir society.
The displaced community took out a procession from Rajghat to B.K. Ganjoo Memorial Park near Gole Market where it was received by a huge gathering of people. Mayor of North Delhi Muncipal Committee, Meera Aggarwal and Rekha Gupta, Chairperson Education Committee of MCD also joined the community and pay tributes to the martyrs.
All the Kashmiri Pandit Organisations of Delhi NCR region which include Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), All India Kashmiri Samaj, Kashmiri Sewak Samaj Faridabad, Koshur Samuth Ghaziabad, Tikalal Taploo Foundation, Kashmiri Migrant Welfare Association Noida, Kashyap Kashmir Sabha Gurgaon, Koshur Milchar Welfare Association Indirapuram, KP Sabha Bahadurgarh actively participated.
Another programme was organized by Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD) today in which besides the KSD leaders the leaders of Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) also participated. On the occasion the leaders paid homage to all those martyrs including Tika Lal Taploowho laid down their lives for unity and integrity of the country and for protecting the honour of Kashmiri Hindus in Valley.
The speakers said that recent terrorist violence and brutal killings of the innocent nationalist people in Kashmir especially the KPs has been carried out in a systematic manner since 1990.
Those who spoke included Wajahat Habibullah, Ex Chief Information Commissioner, Sarla Talploo, wife of Tika Lal Taploo, Rakesh Kaul president KSD, C L Gadoo, Ex president KSD, Sunil Shakdhar, Dr L N Dhar (former presidents KSD) Dr Shakti Bhan vice president PK, Kundan Kashmiri president KPC, M K Machama, M L Raina and Moti Kaul president (AIKS).
Meanwhile on the call of KPC KPs in Delhi observed Black Day also and switched off the lights of their residential houses for one hour during evening, said a KPC handout issued later.
Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch also observed Martyrs Day today. In this connection a programme was held at SSK Bohri under the chairmanship of B L Bhat its president. Dr R L Bhat was the main speaker on the occasion. He highlighted the significance of the day for KPs while paying tributes to martyrs. A delegation from Jagti camp also attended the function and the JKVM assured full solidarity with the agitating people of the camp. They urged the Government to settle their demands including enhancement of relief without any delay.
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) held a programme here today to observe Martyrs Day. On the occasion two minutes silence was observed in the memory of martyrs. The programme was chaired by A K Raina vice president AIKS. Aryan Ramesh and other activists also spoke on the occasion and paid rich tributes to martyrs.
Relief holders led by Ajay Bhat and Sunil Pandita also observed Martyrs Day at Jagti and other TRTs. The speakers paid rich tributes to martyrs on the occasion and urged the Government to settle their demand immediately.
The Martyrs Day was also observed by Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) at Nagrota in which rich tributes were paid to martyrs by leaders of the organization.
The programme was chaired by S L Pandita and others who paid tributes include B L Raina and M L Akhoon.
Vitasta Samaj Sewa also observed the Martyrs Day today and in this connection a programme was held at Nagrota TRT under the leadership of Chand Ji Khar. The speakers paid rich tributes to Mr Taploo and other martyrs on the occasion.
Floral tributes were paid to martyrs memorial at Akhnoor on the bank of river Chanderbagha (Chenab) by social activists Veer Saraf, Adarsh Ajit and Rajesh Dhar on the occasion of Martyrs Day today.
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