KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A one day conference was Sunday held in Srinagar in which people from different walks of life held deliberations over the topic “Displacement and return of Kashmiri Pandits”.
The conference was organized by JK Youth Council and saw the participation of several religious and political leaders including chairperson Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik, who was the chief guest; Renowned Educationist N B Vishan; Social Activist Rajiv Vora; Head of Swaraj Peeth Organisation Jagmohan Singh Raina; Head All Sikh Coordination Committee Pandith Shukla (Pradhan Yatri Nivas and Dharmarth Trust) apart from other journalists, intellectuals, social activists, students etc.
Speaking on the occasion, Yasin Malik opposed building composite townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and termed them as “townships of hatred”. However, he said migrant Kashmiri Pandits have every right to return to their ancestral land. “Pandits form an integral part and parcel of our nation. Every pro-freedom leader including Geelani Sahab, Mirwaiz Sahab and others have appealed them to return home,” he said.
He said the state has a history of communal tolerance and mutual co-existence, which was even acknowledged by Mahatma Gandhi in 1947, when the entire sub-continent was gripped in communal violence.
“Pandits have business establishments even in the city centre and Muslims are their customers. Will you (the government) shift them in these townships, which in essence will be a ghetto,” he asked.
Speaking on the occasion, Jagmohan Singh Raina Head All Sikh Coordination Committee condemned the Government of India and its allies in the state government for “conspiring” to establish sainik colonies and satellite colonies for Kashmiri Pandits and termed it unacceptable. He said this was being done to harm traditional harmony between different religious communities and was against the interests of the people of Kashmir.
Pandith Shukla in his address opposed the establishment of proposed sainik colony in the state. He said that Kashmiris knew the motives behind these policies and accused the government of creating confusion among people by talking about these colonies repeatedly.
N B Vishan, Surender Kachroo and Advocate Rekha Wangnoo were among Kashmiri pandits who are settled in Kashmir and were all praises for Kashmir Muslims for their cooperation and support.
