Recognise exodus of Pandits as genocide: Panun Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17

The Panun Kashmir (PK), a frontal organisation of 3.50 lakh displaced Kashmiri Hindus, today called upon the Government of India to recognise the exodus of Pandits in 1990 as genocide and expose the people behind the largest displacement of people in post-independent India.

The organisation also accused mainstream parties — National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — of adopting “soft separatism” when out of power in Jammu and Kashmir, which was strengthening anti-India and radical fundamentalist groups in the state.

Addressing a press conference, the PK chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, termed the forced migration of Pandits in 1990 under threat from militant groups and separatists a well-planned strategy against minorities. “New Delhi should formally accept that Hindus of Kashmir faced genocide. Its denial is biggest success of pro-Pak subversive establishment operating within India and has helped immensely in creating an impression that separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir was a legitimate freedom movement rather than militancy run by fundamentalist elements,” said Dr Chrangoo.

The PK has said that the ban on the Jamait-i-Islami was a “step in the right direction”.

“There are launching pads for terrorists across the LoC and IB. But equally dangerous are the political organisations operating within the political system in Jammu and Kashmir that act as launching pads for separatism and subversion and efforts are needed to deal with these also,” said Dr Chrangoo.

The group questioned the policy of successive government towards nationalist forces in the state.