Pandits’ rally to commemorate Guru Teg Bahadur’s sacrifice

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), the apex body representing over 60 Kashmiri pandit organisations worldwide, will hold Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Sanmaan Yatra from Delhi’s Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib to Anandpur Sahib Gurdwara Sri Kesgarh Sahib on January 6. The AIKS decided this in its annual general meeting held here today.

AIKS president Vijay Aima said the yatra would be be organised in collaboration with Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

He said this would be a humble tribute from the community to the revered Guru who attained martyrdom to save their distinct ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic identity. “In 1675, 500 Kashmiri pandits, led by Pandit Kripa Ram, came to Anandpur Sahib to plead before the Guru to save them from religious fanatics. After the Guru’s sacrifice, Pandit Kripa Ram later became the teacher of Guru Gobind Singh and sacrificed his life in the battle of Chamkaur along with 200 pandits,” he said.

During the deliberations at the general body meeting, AIKS reaffirmed the pending demands of the organisation. These include return of the community to the valley after creation of concentrated settlements for the community which have to be self-sufficient in terms of infrastructure, economic avenue, decent accommodation, education, healthcare, security, etc.

They called upon the government to initiate steps to set in motion process of declaring community as internally displaced people (IDP) as enunciated in the UN Human Rights Charter. They also sought adequate compensation for the loss of their properties.