July 13 as Black Day

Kashmiri Pandits observed July 13 as a Black Day today.

Joint Forum of K P organizations held a demonstration here today and marched towards the UNO office at Jammu to register its protest on Black Day. The demonstration was led by A N Vaishnavi, president ASKPC, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president Panun Kashmir, H L Chatta, general secretary ASKPC, D N Kissu, chairman Non Camp, R K Raina senior vice president, ASKPC, Virender Raina, national spokesperson of the Joint Forum and S Prem Singh, president Kashmiri Sikh Displaced Front.

Addressing the demonstrators, Vaishnavi reiterated his demand that KPs be recognized as internally displaced people and their issues be settled as per international covenants applicable to IDPs. He alleged that the mindset of interlocutors is at a complete variance with the nationalist point of view on Kashmir issue who are creating a very unpalatable situation for the nationalist elements in J&K.

Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said that July 13 reminds the KPs of the attempt of genocide that was committed against the community in Kashmir in 1931. A design to ethnically cleanse the Kashmir of its minorities was hatched at the behest of the communal forces, he added.

H L Chatta said that mere economic or employment packages’ can’t pave way for Kashmiri Hindus to resettle in Valley, unless their geopolitical aspirations are met, there is no possibility of the Pandits return to Kashmir.

A joint meeting was organized by Panun Kashmir and its women wing Kashmira Vahini today to observe the Black Day. The participants wearing black bands in token of a strong protest against persistent moves of State Government to call July 13 as martyrs’ day while in fact it was a day when frenzy mobs in Srinagar attacked and looted the shops and houses of Kashmiri, Punjabi and Dogra Hindus.

They said nine Pandits were done to death and scores of houses were looted on this day in 1931.

Dr Agnishekhar, convener PK, while paying tributes to the Hindu victims of 1931 expressed surprise and indignation that those Kashmiri Pandits who were killed by the frenzy mob have been left unrecorded and unsung by State authorities while their tormentors are continuously eulogized and bestowed tributes by the main stream political parties of the Valley. He said after brief lull of 123 years of Dogra rule during which Pandits felt a relief after being continuously persecuted since 14th century, had again to face persecution from this day in 1931 till date.

Others who paid tributes to Hindu victims of 1931 included PK president Vijay Bhat, its political secretary Sanjay Raina, national spokesperson Kashmira Vahini, Dr Khema Koul, Shiban Khaibri, media chairman PK and Sanjay Dattatrey, national coordinator PK.

Decrying the July 13 as the Black Day in the history of the State, Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) in a meeting today called on the people of the State to recognize the communal agenda of July 13, 1931. The meeting took stock of the current situation in Kashmir and the challenges before the displaced Hindus from the Valley who were the primary targets of the rioters of 1931.

In his address Dr R L Bhat pointed out that the events preceeding the communal riots of July 13, 1931 and the events that took place on this day were communal in character and directed against the Maharaja not for his being a dictator but for being a Hindu. The rioters too targeted the Hindus, their houses and business establishments. The most unfortunate aspect of this has been the recent lionization of non Kashmiri instigator of July 13 riots, Abdul Kadir in Kashmir.

The meeting among others was addressed by Kashmiri Lal Bhat, M M Thaploo, M L Bhat, Chand Ji Pandita, P L Bhat, H L Bhat, national general secretary, JKVM, B L Bhat its state president and Dr AN Pandita chairman Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust.

Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) observed the day as Black Day and its activists wore the black badges besides the people switched off the lights on their respective houses and residences on the appeal of the organization this evening for one hour.

Besides to protest against the atrocities committed on the community on July 13 in 1931 the protest was held to draw the attention of Government, political parties throughout the country towards the problems of the KPs, said Kundan Kashmiri national president of the organization.

He, while addressing the gathering at Dwarika New Delhi appealed the community to be united at this crucial juncture and warned Government and its agents not to play with the aspirations of the community.