SRINAGAR: Panun Kashmir has expelled its former chairman Ajay Chrungoo with immediate effect over alleged links with US-based Pakistani “ISI agent” Ghulam Nabi Fai and appointed Tito Ganju as the new chairman of the organisation.
In a circular issued on Saturday, the organisation said an enquiry would also be conducted into Chrungoo’s alleged foreign engagements, including a reported interaction with Fai.
The circular was issued by Panun Kashmir convenor Agnishekhar after consultations with senior leaders and on the recommendations of general secretary Kuldeep Raina, organising secretary Behari Lal Kaul and other office-bearers.
The leadership said the decision was taken to safeguard the “ideological clarity, organisational discipline and historic mission” of the movement representing the aspirations and struggle of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.
According to the circular, serious concerns had been raised regarding the functioning of the organisation in the years following a controversial write-up associated with Fai, who has been described as a proclaimed and convicted ISI agent.
The representation submitted to the leadership cited allegations of anti-organisational conduct, deviation from ideological principles, character assassination of senior activists through proxies, attempts to dissolve the organisation without mandate, obstruction to organisational expansion, defuncting of several units and attempts to create parallel organisational structures.
The circular also referred to statements attributed to Chrungoo involving criticism of the Ram temple and remarks perceived by activists as hostile towards the nation, which caused concern within the organisation.
It further raised questions regarding certain foreign engagements and interactions with individuals alleged to be linked with hostile agencies, including Fai. The organisation said Chrungoo had been asked to clarify the purpose and sponsorship of his foreign visits and whether the required permissions had been obtained from competent authorities.
According to the circular, senior office-bearers met Chrungoo on March 14 last year and apprised him of the concerns while giving him an opportunity to respond. However, he declined to provide any clarification and subsequently refused further engagement. A formal representation seeking clarification was also sent later but remained unanswered.
“In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the continued absence of clarification, it was resolved that Ajay Chrungoo stands expelled from the organisation with immediate effect,” the circular said.
Following his expulsion, Tito Ganju has been nominated as chairman and will oversee the restructuring of the organisation’s global structure. A team nominated by the convenor will hold deliberations on drafting a revised constitutional framework.
Panun Kashmir also said it will constitute a commission of enquiry to examine Chrungoo’s alleged foreign engagements, sponsorship of overseas visits and interactions with individuals alleged to be linked with hostile agencies.
An activists’ workshop will be held in Jammu on May 24 where the proposed constitutional framework and organisational restructuring will be deliberated upon and formally adopted, the organisation said.
