New Delhi/Jammu, April 18 (Scoop News) – Roots in Kashmir(RIK), a frontline organisation of the Kashmiri Pandits describes as farce the yesterday’s visit of radical separatist fringe leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to Kashmiri Pandit transit camp in Kashmir.
In a statement the activist of RIK, Aditya Raj Kaul,Rashneek Kher said that it is pertinent to note that Geelani has been at the recieving end of Pandit ire on both his recent visits to Delhi. Why did he suddenly remember us after 22 years? Where was he all these years when we were driven out of the valley, when our women were raped and men selectively killed, our houses burnt and our temples laid waste? Why was he silent then and for all these years?
The statement said what can be more tragic than Geelani saying that his fight is for principles and against the centre? If it was so then why were Pandits driven out of their land one wonders. Why was Geelani silent when his followers were shouting – ‘Give us Kashmir with Pandit women but without their men’. When was the last time or was it ever that Geelani gave a strike call when Pandits were killed? Not even when Sarla Bhat was raped. Not even after the Wandhama Massacre (in which 24 Pandits were killed) did Geelani’s milk of human kindness flow enough to give a call for a solidarity. He did not issue a statement then saying Pandits were his brothers. Let us not forget he has condoned the acts of people like Bitta Karate (the butcher of Kashmiri Pandits) and murderer Yasin Malik. Was his conscience sleeping all this while?
It is ironic that a man who is known to have supported the Islamic insurgency in its most violent forms, a man who is a known stooge of Pakistan and the propounder of the idea of Azadi barai Islam should suddenly turn apostate and quote from the Mahabharta. It is a simple case of an urgent image makeover that prompts Geelani to visit Kashmiri Pandits and make the right kind of noises in front of cameras. As for him quoting from the Holy Qoran the act of such a man quoting such a sacred text itself amounts to Tauheen-e-Quran said in a statement.
The leaders of RIK said that the Kashmiri Pandits will go back to their homes one day and for this we need no invitation and no drama from Mr.Geelani. If Mr.Geelani indeed is serious about our return and truly has a change of heart let him tell his followers to vacate Pandit houses and temples? Let him first accept that the exodus of Pandits was part of larger strategy to cleanse the valley of Kafirs. Let him announce publicly that Yasin Malik and Bitta Karate should accept their crimes for killing of Pandits. Only when does he take these steps would one begin to think of accepting his so called change of heart.