KL Report
SRINAGAR
All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC) Thursday condemned the attitude of J&K Government for buckling under the “pressure of some elements hell-bent upon foiling the return of Kashmiri Pandits by stopping the Kousar Nag Yatra even after clearing it earlier”.
In a statement issued here by the National Spokesperson of APMCC, the APMCC leaders took a strong notice of the fact that certain groups created a ‘misconception’ around Kousar Nag Yatra known as Kramsaras Tirtha (Vishnu Paad) Yatra among Kashmiri Pandits relating it to the Yatra being conducted by people of Jammu from Reasi side adding Kashmiri Pandits have been going to this place from times immemorial but now a “communal colour is being given to it to create fear psychosis among KPs that they won’t be allowed to worship according to their will”.
Talking to media after the Kulgam district administration did not allow them to proceed further, Chairman APMCC Vinod Pandit castigated the Omar Abdullah government for buckling under the pressure of some communal elements without caring to clear the misconception among the local people with an eye on the forthcoming elections.
He also questioned the authority of DC Kulgam for saying that the traditional route was from Reasi and not Kashmir asking him where from were Kashmiri Pandits going on pilgrimage before 1990, and why he gave permission earlier.
“Kashmiri Pandits have been going there since Nilmata times as recorded in Raj Tarangni and books of Aurel Stein,” Chairman APMCC Vinod Pandit said.
The statement said that Pandit also took a strong note of the separatists and opponents of the Yatra for openly saying it was Muslim Kashmir adding, “why were they adopting double standards and challenging Yatra, and pilgrimages and on the other hand saying Pandits are welcome to Kashmir.”
Spokesperson APMCC, while reacting to the cancellation of the Yatra said that this was most unfortunate as the government, the separatists, mainstream politicians and the civil society has joined hands to ‘prevent’ Kashmiri Pandits from performing their religious activities adding Omar Abdullah, Syed Ali Geelani, and other separatist organisations besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi must come out with clear stand towards Kashmiri Pandits return to Kashmir and whether they want us back or not adding everybody was adopting double standards.
He said that while separatists were welcoming the return of Pandits but issuing such checklists of Do’s and Don’ts is contradictory adding it seems they want us in Kashmir as ‘second class’ citizens.
He also asked SAS Geelani “why Kashmiri Pandits Yatra was stopped when he himself says KPs should return to their original places of residence adding how can they return when their every move is looked upon with suspicion.”
The statement said Yatra was a part of Kashmiri Pandit culture and worshiping nature could never create pollution adding why were separatists and civil society silent on the loot and plunder of Gulmarg, Dal Lake, Pahalgam and other places where locals have destroyed the ecology severely and whether it was only Kashmiri Pandit who creates pollution.
He said Kashmiri Pandits are an educated community and know more about ecological balance than other people.
“Kousar Nag Yatra was a simple pilgrimage to the lake where Pandits would have offered water to their ancestors after prayers which in no way can be called pollution,” the spokesperson said.
General Secretary APMCC also questioned the opposition of Kousar Nag Yatra saying how can Pandits feel safe in their original places of residences when such mass “oppositions are managed” to prevent them from conducting any religious activity.
“They perceive grave threat to the person of Vinod Pandit and other members of APMCC adding if anything happens to anyone, the state and the central governments will be directly responsible for it,” the General Secretary said.
“Organisations was in the fore front to save cultural heritage of Kashmir and working on ground level to help Kashmiri Pandits return to their original homes but by targeting APMCC, the Civil society, separatists and the mainstream politicians including the government was trying to prevent their return which exposes their tall claims of composite culture and secularism.”
