Panun Kashmir rallies mark observance of Holocaust Day

Jammu, Jan 20 (UNI) Kashmiri Pandits under flagship of various organisations, staged a Number of protest demonstrations, rallies and public meetings at different places in the city to mark the observance of ''Holocaust'' Day on Friday.

At the public programme, organized by Panun Kashmir (Chrangoo faction), a solemn pledge was taken that the organization shall continue to fight to get the rights of Pandits recognized as the original inhabitants of the Kashmir valley, recognised.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Ajay Chrangoo accused the state government for throwing a spanner into the centre's initiative aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the exiled community.

''We are determined to struggle for carving out of a homeland for over seven lakh Pandits and to expose the farce being enacted in the name of peace process and resist all such moves, which derive legitimacy at our cost, and seek to delink displaced Pandits from state administrative set up,'' he said.

It also pledged to fight for constituting a Ministry of Rehabilitation at the central level, to deal directly with displaced communites affairs, for a tribunal to look into the reasons of designed expulsion of the community from the valley, for an employment package and declaration of distressed'' sale of property as null and void.

Others who addressed the gathering include Prof. M K Teng, chairman Advisory, O N Trisal, and Kuldeep Raina. The Secular Youth Front also organized the programme to observe the Holocaust Day.

The Panun Kashmir installed hundreds of masks, banners and placards with different slogans on the bank of Ranbir Canal at Muthi. The Dharna was led by Dr Agnishekhar and Dr K L Chowdhary.

The Pandits became the worst victims of genocide in modern times.

It is now more relevant than ever in view of the abdication of India's claim on Kashmir and the absence of any concrete measures for return of Pandits, ''Dr Agnishekhar said.

A demonstration was staged by Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) at Dogra Chowk, with activists wearing black scarfs protesting against the complete silence of the Government on the plight of the displaced Pandits who are leading an exiled life for last 17 years.

UNI