Kashmiri Pandits launch 'Sankalp Yatra' from Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 12 (UNI) The Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM), a frontal organisation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, today launched a 'Sankalp Yatra' from here today.

The march, led by PKM president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, began from Sheetal Nath, a historical place for the Kashmiri Pandits.

Addressing a news conference here, Mr Chrungoo said the march would cover nine states and two union territories before culminating at Jammu in December.

''It will focus on Kashmir issue and terrorism, exodus and displacement of Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities of Kashmir and their present status, human rights situation of minorities in Jammu and Kashmir besides the demand for homeland in Kashmir,'' he added.

Mr Chrungoo said the march on foot would be held in four stages.

While the first phase would be from Srinagar to Jammu, the second would cover Jammu to Gandhinagar, Gujarat, third from Sabarmati, Ahmedabad to Ravi, Pathankot via Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and the fourth from Lakhanpur to Jammu.

''This political pilgrimage would visit the birth and work places of Mahatma Gandhi -- Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Dr B R Ambedkar -- Nagpur, D K B Hedgewar -- Nagpur and Lokmanya B G Tilak -- Pune.'' He said the march would also, during its course, visit the religious places such as Harmandir-Darbar Sahib -- Amritsar, Durgiana Peeth -- Amritsar, Akshardham -- Ahmedabad and Hazoor Sahib -- Nanded, Maharashtra.

The nine-member PKM delegation visted Sheetal Nath, the banks of river Jhelum near the Hanuman Temple at Amira Kadal, and the office of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at Gupkar Road here.

The delegation later presented a document titled ''Kashmir Documentation: Pandits in Exile'' to the UN officials.

UNI