Jammu,August 25 (Scoop News)-J&K Civil Society, Jammu organised a Seminar today at Jammu on the topic “Kishtwar –Reminiscent of Kashmir 1931”. The panelists included Ashwani Sharma MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia MLA, Dr. Jitendra Singh eminent intellectual and Prof. R.L.Kaul, an expert on the subject. On the occasion, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo made a special presentation on ‘The Report on policy and procedure for return of ex-militants in J&K state’. Deeneshwar Singh Jamwal, Convener, J&K Civil Society conducted the proceedings of the programme while Shri Virender Raina, Official Spokesperson presented a vote of thanks. He also moved a resolution for the formation of a 5-member Civil Society delegation to visit Kishtwar for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation prevailing there and also to know the exact course of events that took place on the fateful day. The Resolution was passed by a voice vote. The date of visit of the delegation would be announced after consultations and at an appropriate time.
The speakers in the Seminar expressed their shock and dismay at the violence perpetrated on the hapless minority Hindu community in Kishtwar. The systematic manner in which the shops, houses and other properties of the minority community were burnt and vandalized is reminiscent of the unfortunate happenings of 1931 in Kashmir.
According to speakers that in 1931, the Hindu minorities of Kashmir were similarly subjected to violence and mayhem on a large scale leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Later on, the same day was officially designated as the “martyrs’ day”, adding insult to the injury of the minority Hindus. This so-called “martyrs’ day” was thrust upon Jammu and Ladakh regions who have painful memories of this day.
The speakers said that while Kishtwar was burning, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, the Minister of state for Home was in Kishtwar, and was supposed to act. He instead behaved as a silent spectator while his Senior, the Chief Minister tried to convince the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha that “there were losses and injuries on both the sides”. The Chief Minister talking in terms of “both the sides” is unfortunate. Omar Abdullah simply justified what he should have condemned and controlled……It is a one-sided attack on minority Hindus and can be called ‘Kishtwar communal raid’.
The speakers in one voice said that the whole exercise of engineering the Kishtwar conspiracy is aimed at disbanding the VDCs and thus endangering the safety and security of the hapless minorities in Kishtwar district. It was because of the VDCs that terrorism could be controlled in the hilly districts and as a result, the exodus of the minorities from remote hamlets could be halted. The secessionist elements backed by Pakistan always envied the existence of VDCs. The speakers in the Seminar were unanimous in demanding adequate compensation to the victims of the communal raid in Kishtwar. The seminar also expressed its sympathies to the people of Kishtwar in their hour of crises.
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