Conspicuous indifference on the part of the civil society in general towards the pan Islamism inspired separatists who are operating in Kashmir with the sole agenda of secession of Muslim majority valley from secular India, is only adding to the woes of Kashmiris. Vast majority of Muslims are suffering in silence for fear of ‘gun’ while the Pandits are in to the nineteenth year of their exile languishing as refugees in their own country. Much cherished Kashmiriyat today sees itself dumped in the debris of history what with a generation of segmented Kashmiri society growing in absolutely different geo- social environs across the Himalayan Pir Panjal ranges. Kashmiriyat, which had survived the repeated onslaughts during the medieval period today stand bruised almost beyond recognition.
No one appears to be listening.
Pandits were selectively targeted in the most inhuman manner leading to their mass exodus from the valley in 1990. Some of those few who stayed back fell victims to the Sangrampora; Wandhama; Nadimarg….. carnages. No, these were no riots. All individual as well as mass killings of Pandits were planned & executed with a motive – to cleanse the valley of Pandits . Not a single case of atrocity against Pandits has been investigated conclusively. It was a bizarre exhibition of pervert mind set when a few months ago a self confessed sharp shooter who had earlier admitted in a private television video magazine, to the killings of dozens of Pandits in cold blood in full view of the public in the streets of Srinagar on the orders of his local masters, was accorded a traditional public welcome by the separatists on his release from the prison. No charges were pressed against the terrorist & no eyebrows are raised.
The perpetrators & their over ground collaborators who should have been tried for crimes against humanity are free- many even masquerading now as Gandhians to appease the compulsive peaceniks.
Terrorism is not now confined to Kashmir alone- rest of India is increasingly & visibly coming under the terror cover. Therefore, it is all the more important to voice the concern against the menace. Political expediency can be no excuse for continued denial of justice to the Pandits. So what if they constitute just a miniscule minority that commands no electoral virtue.
Please speak up & support the initiative to stir up the conscience of the civil society.
No one appears to be listening.
Pandits were selectively targeted in the most inhuman manner leading to their mass exodus from the valley in 1990. Some of those few who stayed back fell victims to the Sangrampora; Wandhama; Nadimarg….. carnages. No, these were no riots. All individual as well as mass killings of Pandits were planned & executed with a motive – to cleanse the valley of Pandits . Not a single case of atrocity against Pandits has been investigated conclusively. It was a bizarre exhibition of pervert mind set when a few months ago a self confessed sharp shooter who had earlier admitted in a private television video magazine, to the killings of dozens of Pandits in cold blood in full view of the public in the streets of Srinagar on the orders of his local masters, was accorded a traditional public welcome by the separatists on his release from the prison. No charges were pressed against the terrorist & no eyebrows are raised.
The perpetrators & their over ground collaborators who should have been tried for crimes against humanity are free- many even masquerading now as Gandhians to appease the compulsive peaceniks.
Terrorism is not now confined to Kashmir alone- rest of India is increasingly & visibly coming under the terror cover. Therefore, it is all the more important to voice the concern against the menace. Political expediency can be no excuse for continued denial of justice to the Pandits. So what if they constitute just a miniscule minority that commands no electoral virtue.
Please speak up & support the initiative to stir up the conscience of the civil society.
(Lalit Ambardar)
