Singhal reiterates support to Panun Kashmir

KS Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Vishwa Hindu Parishad Chief Ashok Singhal, reaffirmed his organisation’s support for creation of homeland for resettlement of seven lakh internally displaced Kashmiri Hindus in Valley. He declared that terrorism has forced the Kashmiri Pandits to live in camps in their own country and lamented India was the only country in the world where members of the majority community had been internally displaced. In order to safeguard the rights of the Kashmiri Pandits, J&K should be divided into four regions and the area north and east of Jhelum should go to them, he demanded.

Exposing the secularist hypocrisy, Mr Singhal asked why the country’s human rights organisations have not issued a single statement on the thousands of Hindus, who have been murdered in Kashmir in the past 12 years. These very organisations raised much hue and cry over the killing of Graham Stains, he added.

These observations were made by Mr Singhal, while speaking at a seminar on “Human Rights” and Kashmiri Pandits”, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day. VHP supremo criticised successive governments for failing to protect the rights of the Kashmiri Pandits He remarked, “The subjugation of the Hindus in Kashmir proves that our model of secularism has failed”. Linking this to the larger problem, Mr Singhal commented, “It is not only Kashmir but Hindus across the globe - Guyana, Venezuela, Surinam, Fiji, Bhutan, US and Meghalaya - have been at the receiving end,” adding that they were not safe even in states like Bihar and Bengal. He blamed western and Islamic civilisations for this. Mr Singhal opined that only a politically powerful Hindu community can stop this.

Mr Sheshdri Chari, Editor Organiser told the audience that migration of the Kashmiri Pandits to other parts of the country was a blot on the Indian society and the beginning of losing one’s territory. He reminded the Hindus of the country that it was their duty to ensure that the Pandits returned to their country. Mr Chari argued that in every country of the world and even in Pakistan rights of the members of the majority community are protected.

On the return of Pandits, Mr Sajjad Lone, new chief of People’s Conference said he would like them back in the Kashmir valley. However, he hastened to add that, “We can’t do enough to take them back. Our hands are tied as far as the threat perception to the Pandits are concerned.” These observations he made in an interview with local daily, The Daily Excelsior.

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