Kashmiri Pandits mark 17th holocaust day

New Delhi, Jan 20: Kashmiri Pandits today observed the 17th holocaust day, marking the forced mass exodus of the community from the Kashmir valley in 1990 after the outbreak of militancy in the state.

Demonstrations, sit-ins and poster campaigns were launched in the national capital by the All India Kashmir Samaj (AIKS) and the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi to mark the day.

Members of the Samiti held a demonstration at the Jantar Mantar here, demanding immediate rehabilitation measures for the members of the minority community.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently stated that minority communities of the country must be given special status but he forgot to mention the Pandits. We demand our right to return home with dignity and safety,'' Samiti Political Affairs Committee Chairman Sunil Shakdher said.

''The Government must tell the community what status has been accorded to it,'' he added.

He said a large number of community members were languishing in migrant camps and the Centre as well as the Jammu and Kashmir government had turned a ''blind eye towards them''.

NDA convenor George Fernandes joined the sit-in and invited the Samiti representatives to the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting next week.

A national poster campaign was launched by the All India Kashmiri Samaj to create awareness against ''jehadi extremism''.

Samaj President M K Kaw came down heavily on the Centre and the State government for their apathy towards the community.

''It is a shame on Indian democracy that approximately 7 lakh pandits are living as refugees in their own country.

Political parties must rise above narrow partisan interest and save the nation and its citizens,'' he said.

Mr Kaw said the community would return to the Kashmir valley when the ''security environment is conducive''.

AIKS said similar events were organsied by states units in several places, including Jammu, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Kolkata.

UNI