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Jammu, 14 September : The Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit Organisations observed the Kashmiri Pandit Balidan Divas today at Jammu. A joint protest demonstration was held at outside the Press Club of Jammu. Those who participated included besides others Shri Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President, Panun Kashmir, D.N.Kissu, Chairman, ADKPUF, H.N.Jattu, President, AIKPC, Sardar PremSingh, President, KSDF, Kashmiri Lal Bhat Patron, PNBMT, Upinder Kaul, Gen. Secy, PK and Virender Raina, Official Spokesperson, Joint Forum. On the occasion, rich tributes were paid to the martyrs who laid down their lives in defending the ideological frontiers of the nation in Kashmir. The leaders on the occasion issue the following statement:
The Kashmiri Pandit community mark the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of Shri Tikalal Taploo today. We on this occasion also remember the supreme sacrifices made by our leading lights in Kashmir like Pt. Premnath Bhat and Sarwanand Kaul Premi among others who fell to the bullets of the Islamic terrorists in Kashmir 25 years ago. Their sacrifices have gone into our lives as an inspiration to remain devoted to our national commitments. Moreover the Kashmiri Pandit community has risen to several challenges all these two and a half decades of struggle in exile. We appeal to the community to always remember that we have been subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing and it is our bounden duty to fight for our homeland in Kashmir.
The situation that has arisen due to the heavy floods in Jammu and Kashmir is also a serious challenge that needs to be addressed on a war footing. The exemplary contributions of the Indian security forces and other connected agencies in rescuing people and providing them the life saving support needs to be complimented. The Indian Army has set examples of humanitarian aid programmes worldwide and is second to none in the protection of the human rights of the people in misery. The way in which the Army has brought people affected by the floods out of the marooned areas in the state is exemplary. The Kashmiri Pandit employees staying at different camp locations and the students belonging to the Jammu region need to be taken out of the flood hit city of Srinagar immediately so as to end the anguish of the people here. It is important to convey that the Jammu region should not be discriminated in the distribution of relief and rehabilitation measures. In fact, the Jammu region should be given a special package of relief for reconstruction of the areas and villages that have been completely erased due to the floods and landslides.
