To my friends…. (Kashmiri Pandits protest against Terrorist Yasin Malik of the JKLF)

Police manhandled Kashmiri Pandit Youth

RIK Activist Aditya Raj Kaul was injured in the clash with Police (Bruised Neck & Torn shirt)

Kashmiri Pandits Protest against Yasin Malik in New Delhi

IANS

Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit activists protested here against militant-turned-politician Yasin Malik, who was to speak at a conclave in the capital Saturday. Police detained at least 10 of the protestors near the conclave venue at Taj Palace and took them to Chanakyapuri police station before releasing them.

The invitation to the chairman of the pro-independent Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front had angered the activists.

Malik was a guest speaker at “Youth Forum - If I Could Change The World”, organised by the India Today media group.

Among others who shared the dais with Malik were Bollywood actor Preity Zinta, politician Sachin Pilot and industrialists Anand Mahindra and Aditya Mittal.
Even inside the venue, a member of the audience objected to Malik’s presence, saying he was a terrorist and shouldn’t be allowed to speak.

Malik is accused of killing Kashmiri Pandits that led to the exodus of around 300,000 of them to other parts of India in 1990.

“Yasin Malik has scores of criminal cases from murder to kidnapping to hawala (money-laundering) racket pending against his name,” said Aditya Raj Koul of the Roots in Kashmir (RIK) that had organised the march.

Rashneek Kher of the RIK, who was among the detained activists, said: “We won’t allow a brutal killer to share the stage with the who is who of the world.”
“What will he teach the youth?” Kher asked.

RIK Activists being arrested and taken into custody.

Naumed na ho in se ae rahbar-e-farzana

Kam kosh to hai lekin kam zauk nahee rahee

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Be despaired of them, oh my comrades in arms

Poor in means we may be but not in passion and zest.

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It is disheartening to know that that the liberal English print press has blocked us completely despite a huge contingent of press people being present at the venue.That NDTV images of our protest shows that the battle is on..The Hindi Media has covered us well and the recoil of our protest has been felt in the JKLF headquarters as well as the IB who support this third rate compulsive killer.I have received calls from influential policy makers who have expressed their un-equivocal support to our crusade against this murderer and killer.

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We have set the cat among the pigeons.Yasin Malik was looking like a babe in the wood or shall I say a cat on a hot tin roof.He got a scare when Aditya,Amal and Veer looked into his eyes. Anand Mahindra’s histrionics not withstanding Lalit Ambaradar and Neeru did what was to be done.When Neeru countered him and asked him if remembers Sarla Bhat who he and his goons raped and chopped on a saw mill, he has clearly taken aback. In presence of Shekhar Kapur and others she asked him how he killed 4 IAF officers and Lassa Kaul,the goon of Kashmir simply left without answering.It is a matter of shame for this nation that while a killer,a terrorist,a kidnapper,a rapist and a gun runner shares dais with the rich and famous, his prey,peaceful Kashmiri Pandit protestors were arrested and beaten up by police and the authorities. The scorecard was 25 detained and 3 injured.

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We must not forget that it was JKLF who killed maximum Pandits and in a way it was them he who was almost single-handedly responsible for the exodus of the Pandits. Let us resolve on this given day that wewill leave no stone unturned to expose this mant hrough whatever means we have. We know a lot of the people in the media are not in our favour, the leftists even in their classrooms (where they teach)project us a “lunatic fringe”.

But fear not my comrades….

This is what Mahatma Gandhi has said

First they will ignore you,then they will ridicule you,then they will fight you and THEN YOU WIN….

Live on to fight and win….

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Sangarmalan payee pragash (The sun will shine on the horizon)

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Rashneek

16th of March,08

Other News Reports:

Tribune - Kashmiri Pandits protest against Yasin

Daily India - Kashmiri Pandits protest against JKLF leader Yasin Malik

New Kerela - Kashmiri Pandits protest against Yasin Malik in Delhi

Yahoo - Kashmiri Pandits protest against JKLF leader Yasin Malik

UNI - Kashmiri pandits protest Yasin Malik's presence in seminar, detained

Daily Excelsior - http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/08mar16/news.htm#9

The Daily Shadow-http://www.theshadow.in/theshadow/artdet.aspx?q=154

A letter to Aroon Purie from an anonymous Kashmiri Pandit

Dear Mr. Purie,

I know you are a busy person for whom every moment is very precious. I,therefore, seek to be excused for this intrusion. However, I am taking this liberty as I know you as one of the ardent believers in freedom of expression. I trust you will appreciate the compulsion behind addressing this communication to you. I also believe you will empathize me as the issue being raised below by me is a concern confronting the displaced KashmiriPandit community. It also raises a sensitive question of our treatment ofthe people who openly wage war against the continuity of India as a nation.

Mr. Purie, it can be stated, without any fear of contradiction, that IndiaToday has been instrumental in shaping the life of not only a whole generation but has significantly contributed towards what India istoday. Millionsof people in India have grown reading India Today and are indebted to it for shaping their intellect. As college students, many of my friends got hookedto the magazine for the temptation of seeing the special photograph of somebeautiful model that India Today initially published as a dedicated column.Latter on when the magazine decided to stop publishing the photograph, we found despite the missing attraction, the magazine had become an addiction.For most of us and hundreds of thousands of other Indians, this obsessionhas continued to remain an integral part of our lives. And I am really gladfor that and trust so will be all others who look forward to India Today fora weekly dose of information, entertainment and intellectual stimulation.
India Today readers have always looked at it as a load star, which guidesthe people by presenting dispassionate critiques of the unfolding events week after week. People also hold the India Today group in high esteem forits innovative forays in to music, publication, and electronic media and above all for its highly stimulating annual conclaves. Most of us have always admired India Today for consistently bringing together some of thesharpest brains and achievers who through their individual contributionshave made tremendous difference in the lives of millions of people.I need to compliment you once again for your vision of selecting some of theworld's great achievers for the forth coming India Today Conclave. Most ofthe selected panelists are truly visionaries with capabilities of affectingvery positive changes in the society through the execution of their dreams.However, your selection of Yaseen Malik as on of the youth icons who can make a difference is simply baffling. I am sure this name must have shocked a vast number of your admirers. I would reckon the selection of Yaseen Malik as one of the panelists represents either a great goof up at India today or the naivety of its selectors. In either case, this reflects poorly on the institution known for its untiring fairness, fearless objectivity and tireless crusades.I don't have access to the old copies of India Today pertaining to theperiod when militancy, extremism and fundamentalism raised their ugly heads in Kashmir. But I recall during those dark days in Kashmir when all layers of social and state apparatus seemed to be under subversion, it was onlyIndia Today which brought us a true picture of the happenings around us.Please visit some of the early 1990 issues of India Today and you will find buried under the pages some of the boldest voices of those days. Wasn't it India Today, which suggested, "Govt. of India should seriously consider cutting off water and electricity supplies to mosques and other institutionsin Kashmir that utilize their premises for launching anti-national activities?" And if you dig a little further in your archives, you willfind that much before Hizbul Mujahideen, All Umar, Jihadi Council, Harkat ulAnsaar, Al Qaeeda and many other dreadful militant organizations came into existence, JKLF had already wrought havoc in Kashmir and had even forced an entire Kashmiri Pandit population to flee their ancestral home land. I am sure India Today hasn't forgotten the connection between Yaseen Malik and JKLF.I know it is like showing candle to the sun, but I need to remind you about pending TADA cases against Malik. As an institution, which brought about a paradigm shift in the way Indians analyzed the socio-political events and as magazine that takes pride in tracking down its old covers whenever it does asimilar lead story, India Today can't have forgotten Malik's self admitted role in killing of four unarmed Indian Air Force personnel. It would also be aware of his role in Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping.In your introduction Malik has been described as championing the return ofdisplaced Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. Nothing can be morepreposterous than this suggestion. I am sorry to state; India today has insulted the sensitivity of hundreds and thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits by crediting the man singularly responsible for their exodus as their sympathizer. Knowing the reputation of India Today in being strictly objective about its stories, I would have expected you to employ your own editorial principles while writing about Malik.I would once again credit you for assembling a group of real visionaries forthe forthcoming conclave. For them it is definitely an equal measure of honour to be addressing the conclave as the matter of prestige for you.
Given the amount of reputation and prestige enjoyed by India Today, yourparticipants would have blindly agreed to be the part of the event. By making them to share the stage with a person, who after Hitler, is perhapsthe biggest killer of humanity, India Today will be making the conclave all the more eventful for these modern day icons.Your distinguished guests are an admirable group of achievers, who have attained iconic stature through their principles, honesty and hard work.They are the real loadstars to who the future generations will look forinspiration, guidance and motivation. Posterity will remember them for theirimmense contribution towards humanity. They have excelled in theirrespective fields while playing the game fair and square. Al Gore, MukeshAmbani, Satguru Jagi, Sunil Mittal, Dr. Craig Venter and many others on your panel will be remembered by many generations for their contributions towardsmaking our world a better place to live in. These eminent people have alwayslet their concern for the society dictate their philosophy and actions. You have really pulled a coup by making these distinguished personalities share space with a person, who has exhibited a callous disregard for fellowcitizens by presiding over the forceful exodus of an entire community. And that too for the reasons of faith and religion.Mr. Purie, I don't occupy a pedestal from where I can demand your withdrawal of invitation to Yaseen Malik. I can only leave that to your discretion.But, I am sure my entire displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and majority ofIndians would feel insulted if Yaseen Malik is allowed to preach hishollowed principles and constructed ideology from the pedestals of the conclave. You may have your compulsions and external pressures in grantinghim such a privilege but please don't preach that Malik is concerned aboutthe return of Pandits to their homeland. Nothing can be more fallacious and derogatory than this.I feel the forthcoming India Today Conclave is test of credibility for yourinstitution. After all, it is you who has labeled a religious fundamentalist, a hardcore extremist and a perpetrator of genocide on an ethnic minority as a greatest leader. I don't understand if this is a weird joke or an indication of India Today's sense of judgment gone bizarre.Mr. Purie, as a patriotic Indian and as a small individual who has also contributed in making India Today what it is today, I demand an explanation.

Regards,

19th Jan. 1990 - Horror of Exodus staged in the play "TRISHNA" at Panjab University, Chandigarh

Hindustan Times

Our past records can be our nemesis, I murmured to myself. This was a day before Roots in Kashmir was to stage the play titled”Trishna”. When Roots in Kashmir last did an event in Chandigarh the turnout was a record. It was far higher then we had anticipated. It was the fear that we may not be able to do a repeat of our past performance in terms of sheer numbers who waited for 2 hours in the sultry heat for a repeat screening of “And the World Remained Silent”
The young or should I say adolescent team of RIK,Chandigarh had done everything to put my fears not only to rest but to sleep. They had contacted a theatre group to bring the play to the audiences. Many days were spent on finalization of the script. The artists were carefully chosen and rehearsals done to perfection. The presence of non-kashmiris as artists sent out a message. They had done what all of us had failed to do so far. They had managed to convey their pain and exile to their fellow Indians. It was what we need most “Empathy”.
There is very little that I can say about the play.The newspaper reports say it all.
It was a somber moment when a thousand candles lit to pray in the memory of those who were killed by terrorists.It was moment of peace and as tears rolled down Veer’s cheeks,the rest of team sang

Aaye jo aanee ho parlay,ho parvatmala bhi vilay,Ho chatone ke kshitij aur,
Nahee rok payenge …yeh prayaas,chu taron ko ham jayenge
Honge Aatankit ab na aur…jo aab awwaz uthayenge…to bujate dweep jalenyege
Haan naye shikhar…ha nayye laeh,bas yeh awwaz utahayenge…
Hum phir Kashmir ko jayenge…hum phir Kashmir ko jayenge

RIK thanks all the actors of the play.A special thanks is due to Ajeet Panwar for his direction that made the play a great success. Ishan the Sutradhar,without you it was all incomplete.

Amar Ujala

Dainik Bhaskar

Cry for Life...

Candle Light Vigil in memory of Terrorism Victims

View of the audience

Poignant play on plight of Kashmiri Pandits

Tribune News Service

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Artistes stage a play "Trishna" at Law Auditorium of Punjab University, Chandigarh, on Friday.

Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Chandigarh, February 29

Trishna, a play depicting the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, was staged by ‘Roots in Kashmir’ (RIK)-an initiative launched by the Kashmiri youth. The play highlighted the atrocities inflicted upon the minority community.

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The play, staged in three parts, depicted the real life incidents of three families that underwent the trauma of terrorism in Kashmir. In the beginning, Rajesh, who was to become a father in two months, was killed by the terrorists leaving behind his pregnant wife Geeta.

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The second part highlighted the misery of a father, who suggested his daughters to commit suicide in view of the growing exploitation of women in Kashmir. The last part showcased the plight of a woman crying for help to save her husband’s life who fell prey to the terrorism.

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The play was conceived and scripted by RIK members and directed by Ajeet Panwar. Ajeet, a non-Kashmiri member of the group, said, “Kashmiri students on the campus inspired me to come up with this idea.” Narrator of the play Ishaan said, “The presence of a number of non-Kashmiri students suggested the involvement and dedication to the cause of Kashmiri Pandits, who have been the victims of terrorism.”

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Nek Chand, who graced the occasion, said, “May you all get justice and return to your homeland as soon as possible.”