Kashmiri Pandits forced to migrate out of Kashmir

KASHMIRI PANDIT SANGARASH SAMITI
Sathu Barbar Shah, Srinagar, Kashmir (J&K) – 190001
email: kpss.kashmir@gmail.com

Press Release

(State Government is now fiddling with the Kashmiri Pandits Data,

false reports submitted in the State Assembly)

The recent statements given by the representative of the ruling government on the floor of house has put us in a great shock. We never expected that the State Government will even fiddle with the data related to the Kashmiri Pandit Community. As we can understand that if they do so in respect of the Majority Community to satisfy their bosses in New Delhi, but to whom the State Government want to satisfy that they concealed the gave the distorted the facts and figures related to the Kashmiri Pandit Community.
 
In the year 2008 KPSS initiated a Independent Census Program of the Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley and visited every nook and corner of the State to collect the data related to the Kashmiri Pandits viz-a-viz population (pre 1990 upto 31.03.2008), Killings, temples, health, jobs, financial status and other important factors.

Population (Pre 1989 upto 31.03.2008) / Migration

Sr. No.	Time Period	Kashmiri Pandit Population
		In Kashmir Valley (families)	Migration (families)	%age
1	Till 01.01.1990	75,343	-	-
2	01.01.1990 – 31.08.1990	40,741	34,602	45.93
3	01.09.1990 – 31.03.1992	6,460	34,281	84.14
4	01.04.1992 – 31.03.1998	3,773	2,687	41.59
5	01.04.1998 – 31.03.2008	651	3,122	82.74
Total			74,692	99.14

These figures reveal that out of 75,343 (3,67,289 souls) families; 74,692 (3,64.130 souls i.e. 99.14%) families of Kashmiri Pandits living in Valley opted for migration from time to time. These figures also reveal that the KP population in the Valley is still draining out and obviously, it is not the security reason. This clearly indicates that the State and Central Government have failed in restoring their faith in the Community and nothing positive has been done to stop this effectively.
What about those who didn’t got themselves as registered with the State / Central Government and were also forced to leave the valley from time to time. That means that the State Government is not going to own them back if the normalcy prevails in this part of the World.

Presently the Census done by the KPSS reveals that there are 651 families at 104 places living in the Valley having than 2756 souls by the end of March, 2008.

On the contrary Government claims that 808 Kashmiri Pandit families are still in Valley.

Kashmiri Pandit Killing
As per the report of the Government 219* Kashmiri Pandits have been killed during the past 20 years by the militants.

But as per the information so accured by the KPSS, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits were killed during the past 20 years and the first list of 403  persons has been identified those who have been killed by the militants.

Even the cases related to the massacres have been closed by the State Government on the want of evidence. For which KPSS has already filed a compliant before State Human Rights Commission.

Temples
As per the State Government report only 170 out of 430 temples have been damaged in the militancy related incidents in Kashmir Valley past 20 years. It also said that out of 170 temples 90 have been renovated with costs Rs.33.00 lacs to the State Government.

But, as on 31.03.2008, during the census programme KPSS came across 665 temples which have been damaged due to the militancy related incidents during past 20 years. And we ask State Government to just publish the list of temples that they claim to have been renovated during the past 20 years alongwith the cost incurred on each temple.
All the figures so given by the State Government representative on the floor of House is very un-realistic and smells some conspiracy against the Kashmiri Pandit Community.

KPSS is going to organize a series of seminars on these issues in the coming days against the false propaganda of State / Central Government so that the world community can understand the malafide intentions of State / Central Government against this miniscule Community.

Sanjay K. Tickoo
President
Ph : +91-9906564741
* The so called official figures of number of pandits killed is dsiputed and have not accepted by Pandit community. The community feels the figures are not correct .

Kheer Bhawani Mela, Ganderbal, Kashmir, Hindu-Muslim Communal Harmony, JKLF, Militants, Terrorisim, Christians-Muslims, Jews of India, RSS-BJP, Indian Army, Bita Karatay, Hizbul Mujahideen, Hilal War, 11th August Foundation, Sheikh Aziz, Shabir Shah, yaseen Mailk, L&T

GANDERBAL, June 10: Ganderbal district today was a grand display of communal harmony in Kashmir. Over one lakh people thronged the twin religious festivals of Kheer Bhawani Mela for Hindus and Babanagri Urs  for Muslims in the district.

According to officials, 72,000 mostly Kashmiri Pandit devotees from across India thronged to Tullmulla to participate in the annual Mela Khirbhawani, while more than 80,000 Muslims attended the two-day urs at Babanagri Kangan.

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Talking to Kashmir Times, a   devotee from Jammu Rakesh said, “It is a healthy and lively sign of Kashmiriyat. The locals here provide us everything we need. They feel incomplete without us and so do we without them”.

A local, Showkat Ahmad Bhat from Awami Behbood Committee Tullmulla was busy offering juice to the devotees at a stall.

Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who had installed a stall inside the shrine premises selling the items meant for the Puja looked cheerful doing brisk business. “I hope this business will grow further every year,” said Bhat.

“Mela Khirbhawani is the LIVE example of Hindu-Muslim harmony and has no parallel in any part of the world,” said Chairman of United Kashmiriyat Forum, Bharat Raina.

Kheer Bhawani temple of Godess Ragnya has become one of the main annual attractions for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

Every year some one from the new generation of the minority Kashmiri Hindus makes the pilgrimage to Tullamulla for the first time.

Ajay Koul of Jammu, originally hailing from Sheikhpora Budgam who participated in today’s Mela Khirbhawani was one such first timer. His maiden visit to this famous shrine was only possible because of a government job he has recently got as compensation to return.

“I would definitely have visited here before but the financial security was a big hindrance for me,” Ajay, 29, told Kashmir Times.

He said all the Pandits who have migrated from valley in 1989 afterwards would definitely return if provided the special package including the financial security.

“See, I am here for the first time. And that is because of teacher job I have recently got as a migrant. Any special packages from the government aimed at the welfare of the Pandit community including the financial assistance will definitely paves a way for the return of Pandits,”, he said.

Ajay, who is now working as a teacher in one of the government schools in Srinagar before visiting Mata Khirbhawani at Tullmulla first made his way to Dastageer Sahab Khanyar and then to Dargah Hazratbal. After visiting these two places, he finally visited Tullmulla.

Echoing Ajay, Sandeep from Jammu originally hailing from (Anantnag) Islamabad said that the youth are definitely intended to return to their motherland. “We are emotionally integrated with our motherland Kashmir and any green signal in the form of job and other securities will definitely coax us to move back here”, he said.

“It was not only Pandits who suffered because of 1989 turmoil, but Muslims also did. My local Muslim friend at Islamabad is calling me everyday to return as he is even today feeling incomplete without me,” another youth said.

Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus in Kashmir, Pakistan, India, UAE, KAS

Return to your homeland: Geelani tells migrant Pandits
Quotes Mahabarata, Says Kashmir struggle Based On Principles

Vesu (Kulgam), Apr 17: The Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani Sunday reiterated that the Kashmiri migrant Pandits were an inseparable part of his body and made a passionate appeal to them to return to their homeland and live in harmony with the Muslim brothers and sisters, reports KHALID GUL in Greater Kashmir.

 Addressing a gathering of Kashmiri Pandits at Migrant Pandit’s colony in this south Kashmir district, Geelani assured them of complete protection if they return “You are a part of our body. I assure you that you will be fully protected. We will make sure that no harm is done to your lives and property,” Geelani told the Pandits.

He rejected the idea of setting up “safety zones” for them. “This gives a sense of divide between the Muslims and the Hindus,” Geelani said. “When I was released after two years from jail in 1992, I made it clear that the Pandit brothers are a part of our great heritage and we have to live in coexistence under all circumstances. I reject the idea of creating safe zones for the Pandit community. This gives a sense of divide between the two communities.”

Geelani told the gathering that “you must appeal to the government to allow you to return to your original places in villages, towns and cities. We have centuries old traditions of sharing each others’ joys and sorrows. Those traditions are dear to us and have to be reestablished. We have to strengthen our bonds.”

Geelani alleged that it is the state government that, for its own interest, wants to divide the Kashmiri nation on the basis of religion. “The divide and rule is its well thought out policy. I don’t want you to put up in the separate colonies in the name of safe zones where your privacy is at stake. With the help of God and on behalf of the 90 percent Muslim majority in Kashmir, I assure you that your temples, lives, property and honor would be protected by us as you return to your original homes,” he told the members of the Pandit community. “You are not the migrants but the real citizens of this land. None of you will face any harm from your Muslim brothers. I assure you that.”

Referring to Holy Quran, Geelani said: “Allah does not discriminate between human beings on the basis of religion, caste, color, creed, wealth or poverty, rural or urban origin. Every individual is a human being first and the caste is only for his identification. To be a good human being one must have a good character,” Geelani said.

Asserting that the freedom struggle of Kashmir was based on principles, Geelani said: “Our fight with India is not because it is a Hindu majority country. It is the battle of principles. We are fighting for our rights and the promises that were made to us must be kept.”

He said peace cannot be achieved at gunpoint, but had to be established through justice alone.
 “On one hand government talks of peace and at the same time books minors under the Public Safety Act and detains them in Jammu jails,” he said

He said the people of Kashmir are not being provided a space to even peacefully raise their voice against “the state oppression.” “Since 2010 I have been confined to my house by the police and it has been only last Friday that I was allowed to offer Friday prayers in a local Masjid,” Geelani said.

He said history was testimony to the fact that truth has always prevailed in its battle with might. He urged the Pandit community to feel the pain of their Muslim brethren.

“Our peaceful protests are showered with bullets. The forces do not even spare 10-year-old.  We are not carrying weapons in our hands but are peacefully demanding our rights like India did when it was under the British occupation,” Geelani said. “The troops have occupied more than 28 lakh kanals of land including that of forests in Kashmir which is not only the property of Kashmiri Muslims but Pandits too. Our natural resources are being exploited. The government and the forces are looting the green gold.  The power that we generate is being sold outside while we are being denied even our own share.”

Geelani said that even the temples are now in the custody of non-state subjects instead of the Kashmiri Pandits.

Earlier, National Youth president of Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) and the patron of the Kashmir Pandit Amity Council, Sanjay Saraf accorded a warm welcome to the veteran leader.

“Geelani sahib is the only leader who always advocates return of Kashmiri Pandits. The Pandits who are here have not returned on the assurances of state government but only because of the assurance of Geelani sahib and majority community,” Saraf said.

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Taking out a leaf from the Mahabharata, Geelani narrated the famous conversation between Arjuna and Lord Krishna when Pandavas were taking on the Kaurvas.

 “When Arjuna faltered in the fight against Kaurvas, Maharaj Krishna told him that it was a battle based on principles. You have to fight even own brothers for principles,” Geelani said while asserting that his struggle was based on principles.

When Geelani left the camp, the villagers gathered around him shouting pro-freedom slogans and forced him to lead the Zuhar prayers in the local Jamia. After the prayers Geelani addressed the people outside the mosque too.

Later, Syed Ali Shah Geelani visited another migrant camp at Mattan in Islamabad (Anantnag) district where he too was accorded a warm welcome. He interacted with many Pandit youth and assured them full protection.

Geelani also visited the houses of some of the youth of Islamabad (Anantnag) town who were killed in the last year’s summer unrest. He visited the houses of Sujat-ul-Islam, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khanday, Irshad Ahmad Latoo, Irshad Parray, Noor-ul-Amin Dagga, Bilal Najar and Rajoo Nath. The youth who had gathered outside shouted pro-freedom and pro-Geelani slogans. He was also accompanied by the party spokesperson, Ayaz Akbar

RSS hooligans’ attempt to attack Gilani foiled

New Delhi, October 21: In New Delhi, the hooligans of extremist Hindu organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, made a failed attempt to attack veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani, at a seminar on Kashmir, today, reports Kashmir Media Service.

According to reports, when the veteran leader reached the venue of the seminar, the RSS people rushed to assault him.

However, their plan failed when a group of enthusiastic Kashmiri youth encircled Syed Ali Gilani and shielded him from attack. The incident was followed by forceful anti-India and pro-liberation slogans, which reverberated the seminar hall continuously for half an hour.

The event was organised by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners and those who spoke on the occasion included Syed Ali Gilani, Arundhati Roy, Professor Abdur Rehman, Professor Sujatha Rao, Najeeb Bukhari, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, Varvara Rao and Dr N. Venu. The majority of speakers stressed the need for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute while denouncing the human rights violations by Indian troops in the occupied territory.