Unity Demonstrated - Memorandum to President

It was a demonstration of unity Organised by Panun Kashmir at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on May 26, 1995. To project double standards adopted by the Government of India in dealing with the nation's running sore, Kashmir. Worsened by destruction of a holy shrine, the epitome of humanistic ethos of Kashmir, at Charar-e-Sharif by mercenaries deployed by Pakistan. Followed by destruction of more than fifty temples and over one thousand houses of Kashmiri Pandits by frenzied mobs in the Valley Participants, representatives of Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi, AIKP.C. and others apart from the Convenor and office-bearers of the organising party.

Perspective, Government of India and all others beating their breasts over the tragedy at Chrar and remaining tightlipped about Hindu places of worship and properties. The Prime Minister and other leaders' pledge to do everything to heal Kashmiri Muslims' scars. Prime Minister sanctions 15 crore rupees for the purpose, no matter what wounds are inflicted on Hindus of Kashmir right from 1990.

After brief speeches and a march in the midst of slogans, five representatives take the memorandum to the President. The deputation included Presidents of the Kashmiri Samiti and the AIKPC, S/Shri NN. Kaul and Hriday Nath Jattu and was led by Dr. Shakti Bhan. The memorandum demanded, among other things, postponement of proposed elections in J&K till complete normalcy is restored there. The memorandum is reproduced hereunder in full:

Hon'ble President of India,

Rashtrapati Bhawan,

New Delhi.

We seek your benign indulgence in submitting this memorandum highlighting the gross injustice done to Kashmiri Pandits, an ethno-religious community with 5000 years of recorded history.

Sir, in 1990 as a result of selective and sadistic killings, loot, arson by terrorists and the abject failure of Govt. of India to protect this patriotic community from the onslaught of Pan-Islamic fundamentalists, more than 300,000 Kashmiri Pandit men, women and children were forced to flee their homes and take refuge in various parts of India and even abroad. We have been living for over five years in exile, in a state of abject misery. Thousands of families are living in subhuman conditions in camps in various parts of the country. As a result of this callous attitude of the Govt. over 5000 people have perished due to untimely deaths caused by heat strokes, snake and scorpion bites and other unnatural causes. This is in addition to more than a thousand selective killings carried out by the Islamic terrorists in the valley that led to the exodus of the entire community. The killings in the valley were carried out in the most sadistic manner reminiscent of the horror of the rule of Sikander-Butshikan (Idol-breaker) and the barbarism of the mediaeval times. It is important to mention that this genocide was carried out in our free, democratic and secular India.

Sir, the Kashmiri Pandit has been the worst sufferer of this unparalleled communal holocaust. with over 20,000 houses burnt, hundreds of temples ravaged and the abandoned homes forcibly occupied by the majority community with the Govt. being a mute spectator and insensitive to the feelings of this patriotic community Whereas the Govt. has lost no time in granting a relief package of Rs. 15 crores to the fire victims of Chrar-i-Sharif, Govt of India has ignored the destruction of 50 temples and 1500 houses ravaged in the aftermath of this incident. Whereas the Govt of India has granted hefty compensation to the Muslim fire victims, from the Prime Minister's relief fund in addition to liberal compensation by the State Govt, the Kashmiri Pandits have been denied any such gesture. The Govt. has not even cared to acknowledge the damage caused to Kashmiri Pandit property, in spite of hundreds of petitions submitted individually and severally to the state Governor and the Prime Minister during the last 5 years.

This perverted, blatantly biassed and communal act of the Govt. of India contravenes the basic tenets of the Constitution of India. We find it most unfortunate and distressing that the community that has contributed to this Nation immensely through great sons of the soil, the Rishi Bhumi of Kashmir, the fountainhead of Indian culture, which has produced people like Moti Lal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sir Tej Bahadur Saproo and other luminaries, has to suffer a life of such indignity and dishonour in independent India.

Sir, the declared resolve of your Govt. to hold elections in the state of J&K before July 18, 1995 should not be addressed only vis-a-vis the international compulsions, real or imaginary, but also viewed in context of the Govt's failure to:

a) Crush terrorism and prevent its spread outside the State.

b) Purge the administration of subversive elements who have entrenched themselves in the system, including its highest echelons.

c) Address itself to the basic concerns of patriotic forces and their socio-political aspirations.

d) Recognise the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits as a national calamity of far-reaching consequence and evolve a national policy for Internally Displaced People.

Sir, viewed in this context the talk of elections in J&K State before July 18, 1995 is not only ill- timed but also ill-advised. The Govt., it seems, is hell bent to hand over the state to the same secessionist fundamentalist parties who abetted forces of terrorism and secession, ignoring the socio-political aspirations of Shias, Jammuites, Kashmiri Pandits, Ladhakis, Bakarwals, Gujjars, Baltis, Sikhs and others The announcement of the Prime Minister of India in the Parliament that he is willing to concede 'Autonomy short of Azadi bears testimony to the intentions of the Govt. The opinion of the front-line political parties vis-a-vis the election not only substantiates the above view but strengthens it. It becomes clear that our political establishments and democratic institutions have learnt nothing from history and once again nationals in Kashmir are being evaluated and equated with those of anti-national forces. The future of our country appears to be left to the arbitration of secessionists and their supporters.

Sir, the recent Govt. orders of transfer, issued to displaced Kashmiri Pandit employees, to the valley have sent shock waves to this bruised community. The ground situation in the Kashmir valley continues to be hostile to the very existence of Kashmiri Pandits, whose forced transfer to the valley will only ensure to further the process of annihilation that the terrorists had initiated in 1990.

The national interests in Kashmir today are defined as they were in 1947, the consequences of which are before all of us. Panun Kashmir rejects and condemns any attempt that will weaken national interests in Kashmir. The price that the nation continues to pay is a guiding principle for determining our responses and responsibilities. We will not legitimise any process that will ignore the basic concerns of the nationalist forces in the state.

Sir, we hereby request your benign self to intervene and direct the Govt. to give serious thought to:

1. Offer a safe passage to representatives of Kashmiri Pandits for visit to the valley, to assess the damage caused to their properties, educational institutions, temples etc. and gauge the ground situation in the valley.

2. Put a stop to the blatantly discriminatory attitude of compensation given to the Kashmiri Hindus. Compensate for all damage caused to Kashmiri Hindu property in the manner that has been adopted for Chrar fire victims.

3. Withdraw transfer orders of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit employees who have taken refuge outside the valley.

4. Postpone elections because of the continued disturbed conditions in the State.

5. Our political resolve is that our safe and dignified return to the Kashmir Valley is possible only when a Union Territory is carved out in the North-East of River Jhelum and Kashmiri Pandits are resettled in it. The premise behind seeking such a resolution are same which form the basis of the RESOLUTION ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE adopted by UNHRC in GENEVA to which Govt. of India is a signatory.

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Courtesy: June 1995 Kosher Samachar