Monday, December 10, 2007

Press Coverage of Protest by Pandit Children under the banner of "Roots in Kashmir"

TIMES OF INDIA-HYDERABAD
UPROOTED! Activists and children of Kashmiri Pandits participate in a candlelight protest organised by ‘Roots in Kashmir’ at Indira Park in Hyderabad on Sunday, on the eve of International Human Rights Day to bring to light the injustice meted out to the Kashmiri Pandits
Frustated Pandits look for their Human Rights-Aastha Manocha(The Indian Express)
New Delhi, December 9: Hundreds of young Kashmiri Pandits marched from Jantar Mantar to B K Ganjoo Park via Bangla Sahib on the eve of Human Rights Day to protest against the relative silence of NHRC on their plight as they have been left to fend for themselves in exile for the last 18 years.
Led by mostly children and youngsters under the banner of Roots In Kashmir the protestors shouted anti-NHRC and anti-terrorist slogans. Many children marched ahead, carrying banners with slogans pleading to save their community from extinction and joining an endangered species list.
The march proceeded from Jantar Mantar to Bangla Sahib to pay their respects to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur who had vowed to protect the Kashmiri Pandits back in the 15th century. From there they marched to B K Ganjoo Park, named after a telecom engineer brutally killed at his home in the valley during militancy. After saying a small prayer at the park in memory of the friends, families and homes lost to militancy, the meeting commenced.
By means of this march the displaced community also looked to raise awareness about the atrocities committed on them.
‘Last year we had submitted a memorandum, we were assured action but nothing has been done about it, the NHRC has been proved to be a toothless tiger, there is no use of such kinds of so-called watchdogs’, said Rashneek Kher, a member at the march.
‘The least they could have done was to initiate proceedings against the people we had named.’
Similar protests and similar sentiments were seen all over the country in cities like Hyderabad, Chandigarh etc.

1 comment:

Sunil Wali said...

Hi Kashmiri Brethen, I agree with everything you do. I feel proud to be associated with you as we all run the same Kashmiri blood in our veins. This new generation is doing excellent and is doing better. The first generation(post migration) had to meet our both ends and that struggle has paid us by getting our Bold Children like you. Ranish, AJay Raj & many many more have not only mine but have hold whole community head High with Dignity and respect. Migration never even took our education(our foundation). Kashmiri Pandit community is the only community in the existing World(Rather to call Universe as no other planet has civilisation till date)which has written history of more than 5000 years. Be Proud.

One suggestion. Why do not all Kashmiri Pandits get enrolled in one Kashmir district. (Like Srinagar) and then our vote counts. Let us send few MLAS and one MP to parliament instead of begging the bastards. Or we can demand one district for all displaced kasmiris irrespective where we live.

Jai Hind
Jai Jammu & Kashmir
Jai new Generation.

God be with us all. Namaskar.