Anupam Kher asks spl status for Kashmiri Pundits

Varanasi, Dec 3: Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, who campaigned for the cause of justice in the famous Priyadarshini Mattoo case, today demanded that over 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pundits living a life of ''undeclared refugees'' in their own land be awarded special status by the government.

''Displacement of Kashmiri Pundits from their land to other parts of the country is the worst human tragedy that has struck the country in recent years. But their plight has been ignored by every successive government,'' Kher told sources here before leaving for Mumbai after a week long shooting schedule for a Yash Raj banner film.

''The Kashmiri Pundits are living a life of refugees in their own country, but still have not succeeded in getting the status of refugees. Despite being the worst hit by terrorism in the valley, the Kashmiri Pundit families living under plight in various parts of the country, including the national capital, have not even received due compensation from the government,'' Kher added in utter anger.

''They deserve special status and must be given the status of a linguistic minority by the government,'' he demanded.

Flaying successive governments for ignoring the plight of the Kashmiri Pundits, who once formed the cream of civil services, Kher said addressing the cause of these sections does not serve the interests of those in power.

''Aaj ki sarkar ka PR Pakistan tak bus chalake ya China se dosti kar badhta hai naki Kashmiri Pandito ke ghaav bharne se'' (the government scores vital public relation points by starting bus service to Pakistan or else talking friendship with China and not by working to heal the festering wounds of Pundits of the valley).

Originally, a resident of Srinagar, Kher said as an actor he has been trying his best to highlight the plight of the community and has in the pipeline 'Hindu,' -- a movie to be produced by him and directed by Ashok Pundit, which will narrate the plight of the community to which he too belongs.

''Right now the project has been postponed as both myself and Ashok are working on another film 'Chaman Lal Mattoo,' which will narrate the decade long ordeal of the father of Priyadarshini Mattoo, to bring to justice the man accused of raping and murdering his daughter.'' the actor said.

Kher will play the title role in the film.

''I have asked for a script on the subject of the movie. As an individual, I have also contributed to the cause of Chaman Lal Mattoo, who after a prolonged legal battle of 10 years saw on October 20, 2006, the Delhi High Court sentence to death Santosh Singh -- accused of raping and murdering his daughter.'' he added.

Kher joined a host of other personalities including Ashok Pundit and Maneka Gandhi to take to streets in national capital seeking justice for the Mattoo family in the long-drawn legal battle.

UNI

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