Srinagar, Nov 12 (KNS): A two-member delegation of Panun Kashmir is on a two-day visit of Kashmir Valley.
The delegation comprising of Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President and Upinder Kaul, General Secretary respectively of Panun Kashmir.
The visit is in connection with the decade event of the 50-day Kashmir Sankalp Yatra that was initiated from Srinagar way back on 11-12 November 2007.
“The delegation under the leadership of Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President, Panun Kashmir started the tour by visiting first Veth Vatur (VETRAVATI)-Verinag, the original source of the river Vitasta (Jehlum). It was followed by paying visit to Devibal-Shailputra-Baramulla, Jeshta Devi Asthapan-Srinagar, Kheerbhawani-Ganderbal, Ganpatyar Temple-Habbakadal and Sheetalnath-Nai Sarak, Srinagar,” the statement issued to KNS reads.
“We express our deep concern regarding the conditions that have been witnessed by us at Veth Vatur and Shailputri-Devibal, we make a fervent appeal to the government of Jammu & Kashmir to come forward as promised and planned by the concerned Ministry to save these two important symbols of Kashmir’s heritage, history and culture. They are in a very bad shape and need immediate and urgent attention,” they added.
The delegation also paid tributes to the Samadhi of 1967 Martyrs at the historic Sheetalnath Grounds today.
The Kashmiri Pandit displaced community continues to live as refugees in its own country. A serious dialogue process should be initiated by the government of India for the establishment of a separate Homeland in Kashmir valley as explicitly demanded in the Margdarshan Resolution of 1991.
There has to be a full and free flow of the Indian Constitution in the Homeland that needs to be designated as the Union Territory. As the first and primary stakeholders to the land of Kashmir, we need to declare from the land where ‘the ashes of our forefathers and the temples of our gods lay’ that Kashmiri Pandits belong to Kashmir and have an equal stake in Kashmir.
The Kashmiri Pandits have clarified that the Article 370 and Article 35A have become an unnecessary baggage of the past errors of the rulers of India; there is a national consensus to review these absurd laws that are in contravention of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution to the citizens of India. They should be abrogated under the due process of law as soon as possible and the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir state) Order 14th May 1954, since was/is an intentional fraud, be also abrogated along with.
We are of the strong belief and understanding that no government is mandated to discuss and negotiate the issue of unity and integrity of India and Jammu & Kashmir is no exception in this regard. The government needs to make it very clear than to keep the people in dark as it has happened for the last more than six decades. There is an imperative need to restore peace in the Kashmir valley.
The Pandit community has all along supported the initiatives that have the potential to restore law and order in the valley. “Being the first and worst victims of terrorism, the Pandits want complete finish of terror from the valley,” they said. In this context, the appointment of the Centre’s Interlocutor can prove a small window that can pave way for new vistas. We prayed for peace in the valley at all the pious places we visited during these two days and prayed specially at Mata Kheerbhawani Shrine of reverence for Eternal Peace in Kashmir.” (KNS)