New Delhi, May 3, (Scoop News Bureau)-Displaced Kashmiri Pandits Sunday held an impressive protest seeking that the state and the Central governments take the community members into confidence before taking any decision on their return to the Valley and also insisted setting up of a commission to probe the “genocide” which led to their exodus.
Scores of community members braving sizzling summer temperature converged in large numbers at Jantar Mantar in the Union capital, sought that Jammu and Kashmir government reopen prosecution cases against all those involved in the killing of Pandits in roiled Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir following the outbreak of Islamist insurgency.
Wearing black T-shirts and bands, the protesters shouted slogans against Hurriyat Conference and separatist leaders.
Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) leader, Manoj Bhan, said, “whatever decision the Centre or the state government takes, they must talk to the displaced community members first. No separatist should be allowed to intervene in matters relating to our (Kashmiri Pandits) affiars.”
The protesters also demanded setting up of a commission of inquiry to fix responsibility on executors of “genocide” against them. They ridiculed the comments made earlier by Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that only 10 to 15 percent displaced community members will choose to return to their ancestral homeland as most are well placed in various parts of the country.
Bhan said that every member of the community wants to return to their homeland. CBFC board member Ashoke Pandit, who had flown in from Mumbai to participate in the protest, said that the Centre believing the words of Sayeed was the biggest problem for Kashmiri Pandits.
CBFC member said, “I wonder when I see all the terrorists roving freely on the streets of Kashmir, then what is the difference between the previous and present Central Government. The problem lies with the central government and that is trusting the chief minister….who expressed gratitude to Pakistan after the peaceful elections”.
Pandit also demanded that hard core separatists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and others be arrested. Some of the placards carried by protesters also demanded abrogation of Article 370 that guarantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Another protester, Vijay Kaul, said that displaced people want to return to their homeland but on their “own terms and conditions” and the state must ensure the security of those who intend to return.
MORE AT http://scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=46785