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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI – The Kashmiri Pandit community and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar this evening to commemorate the annual Balidan Divas, a day dedicated to honouring the martyrs of the Kashmiri Pandit community and the security forces who have sacrificed their lives. The event, organized by Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, Youth 4 Panun Kashmir, Panun Kashmir, Roots in Kashmir, and other Kashmiri Pandit organizations of Delhi/NCR, began at 3 PM and continued till evening.
This year’s commemoration holds special significance as it focuses on the theme “Kashmiri Pandits and Elections in Jammu and Kashmir.” The gathering aims to shed light on the community’s role and expectations regarding the upcoming elections in the region.
The event commenced with a solemn tribute to the martyrs, followed by speeches and discussions highlighting the historical and social importance of the Kashmiri Pandit community. Speakers emphasized the need for greater political representation and participation of Kashmiri Pandits in the electoral process of Jammu and Kashmir.
Amit Raina and Vithal Chowdhary, key organizers of the event, expressed their gratitude to the attendees and the media for their support. “This day is not only about remembering our martyrs but also about reaffirming our commitment to the democratic process and ensuring that the voices of Kashmiri Pandits are heard in the political arena.”
Amit Raina in his interview with The New Indian said, “The demand of the Kashmiri Pandit community is not such a dangerous demand that no government can fulfil. We have two major demands. One, you should form an SIT and fast-track justice regarding the countless killings that have taken place. The convection rate is zero, this is the right of every person in this country, and it is a human right to get justice.”
Raina further added, “Second, is that you should rehabilitate us back in one place. Keep us in one place, whether you call it a one-place settlement or homeland or a smart city, you want to call it Panun Kashmir, whatever you want to call it under a one-place settlement. So that we can get a sense of security and whatever we have lost, the Kashmiri Pandit community can at least retrieve a bit of it.”
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When The New Indian asked Amit Raina about PM Modi’s announcement in today’s Doda election rally about restoring statehood to J&K and rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits, he said, “Where we have waited for 11 years in hope, we can wait a few more years but the government does not even have a blueprint for the settlement of the displaced community.”
He added, “The government is mocking the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits by linking it with economic packages and jobs. It is saying we have given jobs to Kashmiri Pandits. They did not leave the Valley for jobs, they were expelled, and there was genocide against them. So unless the government addresses some concerns, it is futile. The government may forcibly keep the employees under the PM package, but it can’t forcibly settle them. The minute those employees get a chance, they will leave Kashmir.”
The gathering, which began at 3 PM, drew a sizable crowd and concluded with a tribute to the martyrs, as the attendees paid their respects with candles and slogans in memory of the fallen. The event served as a reminder of the ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri Pandit community and their contributions to the nation.
