Jammu, July 13 (Scoop News) – Various Kashmiri Pandit organastions today organized a massive protest demonstration today and observed the 13th July as a ‘Black Day’. This day in 1931 marks the beginning of the first organized genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir.
Kashmiri Pandits assembled in large numbers today in Jammu and Delhi to register their protest against the observance of the 13th July as the Martyrs day in the state. Wearing ‘Black Badges’ holding placards and shouting slogans, the protesters registered their outrage.
The Joint Forum of KP Organisations held protest demonstration outside the Press Club of Jammu. The impressive demonstration was attended by the activists of the Joint Forum and many leaders and activists of like-minded organisations.
It was addressed by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President-Panun Kashmir, R.K.Raina, President-All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Dr. Ramakant Dubey, Patron-VHP, H.N.Jattu-President, AIKPC, D.N.Kissu, Chairman-NCMCC, Sardar Prem Singh, President-KSDF, Sat Sharma, Rajesh Gupta-BJP leaders. Virender Raina, Spokesperson-Joint Forum conducted the proceedings of the programme. The participants wearing black badges with placards in their hands raised slogans decrying 1931 acts of genocide against the minority community of Kashmir.
The leaders while addressing the KPs said that this day is being observed by the Kashmiri Pandit community as the Black Day since 1932 in commemoration of the persecution that was inflicted upon the community on that fateful day in the valley of Kashmir. On this day, the Hindu community was subjected to loot, arson, murder and mayhem on a large scale in the valley.
They said that the observance of the 13th July as the so-called Martyrs’ Day by the political structures of the state is tantamount to rubbing salt to the festering wounds of the minority Hindu community of Kashmir. It adds insult to injury that on a day, when the Kashmiri Pandits were subjected to mass persecution and loot, has been designated as the official martyrs’ day by the political class of the valley. In accordance with the chalked out plan in 1931, the mobs under the supervision and leadership of communal forces looted Hindu properties and houses at Vicharnag, Maharaj Ganj (the hub of business activity), Amirakadal, Hari Singh High Street and parts of Bohrikadal. In Kanikoot village (now in Badgam district) Hindus were mercilessly beaten, their properties vandalized and there are accounts of one family having been thrown from the windows of a three-storey house and brutally killed. The Hindu community of all hues in the valley was taken aback; this carnage shook its confidence because of the fact that it had to face a one sided onslaught for no fault of theirs.
The nationalist forces in the state cannot forget the facts of history and have been observing this day as the black day for the last number of decades. Those who forget the facts of history are condemned to live it again and that is why that the leadership of the nationalist forces has to remain on guard against any hasty and apolitical move regarding the Kashmir imbroglio.
The Joint Forum of KP Organisations also hail the move of the government of India to ask the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to close its office in New Delhi as it has outlived its utility. We appeal to the government of India to also ask the UNMOG to vacate its mission in Jammu and Kashmir as well. Kashmir is a settled issue and the only issue that needs to be settled with Pakistan is the reclamation of POJK as per the 1994 unanimous resolution of the Indian Parliament.
Meanwhile Dr Agnishekhar, Convenor Panun Kashmir said that the process of genocide of the Kashmiri Pandits began in 1931 and culminated in 1990 with the mass exodus of the entire population of our community. To observe 1931 as the Martyrs Day in the State is insulting and a grave injustice to the sufferings of the Kashmiri Pandits. In 1931 the revolt against the then Maharaja of Kashmir was used as an alibi to perpetrate violence against the minorities in Kashmir. KPs traditionally termed this so called martyrs day as ‘Lootus Vorus’ (Celebration of Loot & Arson).
Dr Ajay Chrangoo ,chairman Panun Kashmir while commenting on the communal intent of the July disturbances and its aftermath ,said it was loud expression of Muslim uprising against Hindu Dogra monarch and the organised communal violence against Hindu minority in Kashmir was part of it. Commenting upon the psychological and socio – political and historical dimensions of behavioral pattern of the persecuted community of exiled Kashmiri Pandits ,he laid stress to keep fighting against forgetfulness and incomprehension of the genocide and religious cleansing that was perpetrated on Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.
Dr. Khema Kaul,of Kashmira Vahini while speaking on the occasion said that the Kashmiri Pandit community cannot forget the wounds of History and it is important to put the facts in correct perspective for the future generations. The attitude of the state government towards Kashmiri Pandit community and other minorities of the state is reflective of the mindset of 1931 Muslim Conference mindset against the minorities. Dr. Khema Kaul said that Kashmiri Pandits are not an orphan community and Kashmira Vahini will take all the necessary measures to mitigate their sufferings and fight the policy of apartheid against it.
Smt Nirmala Tiku, Cultural secretary of Kashmira Vahini, while highlighting the need of giving the generation next a ‘connect’ so that they do not get swayed by the false history and myth of traditional brotherhood that is being projected by the so called secularists nowadays. Had there been the said brotherhood existing in the valley then mayhem in 1931 on 13 july and religious cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits would not have happened in 1990.
Jammu and Kashmir Vicar Munch (JKVM) organized an educative Seminar in the Backdrop of “black day”. The Day is observed even- year on 13 July to remember the atrocities inflicted upon the minorities in Kashmir Valley in the year 1931. 79 Years ago on this day. Kashmiri majority (Muslims) rose in one body to cheer a naked communalist Abdul Qadir who was no! Even a resident of the state and came from Peshawar he was neither any religious teacher, nor a leader, but an ordinary cook, who had been in the valley for only a few months. Qadir was known for inflammatory speeches which he made in the mosques in Srinagar after Nimaaz.
On 21st June 1931 he made another blistering speech at Khankaahi Mo-ola asking Muslims to rise against the Hindu King and massacre the non Muslims. He was arrested and charged for communal passion, when the trail began on 8″‘ July 193 Itch Muslims of the city took to streets in large numbers. The procession continued on the following days. Fearing riots, the administration discontinued the open trial and decided to conduct it in the central jail. On 13* July when the trail was to restart, a huge crowd gathered. At the arrival of the magistrate, the mob broke into the jail premises. They were not allowed and turned violent. The rioters attacked the minority Hindus, plundered their shops, and looted their properties.
They lynched people. Outraged womenfolk and burnt down their dwellings. Terrorism of nineties is only a full-scale perpetration of the acts and intentions of 13 July 1931.
When the Muslim conference was formed, it began to celebrate the day as the surge of Muslim cause in the State. After independence, it has become day of aspirations for all the political parties of Kashmir. Why so?
Kashmiriyat demands mat majority community apologies for the horrendous acts of this black day.
P. L. Badgami spoke about the horrors of 1931 and brought to light the dimensions of the first organized violence against the Kashmiri Pandits by the then Muslim Conference of Kashmir. Badgami scoffed at the so called martyrs of 1931 and instead called the Kashmiri Pandit victims of the communal carnage as the real martyrs.
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