Mumbai: The Indian Americans For Kashmir (IAFK) in association with Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) and their affiliated chapters across United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, New Zeland and various capital cities around the world are holding events to mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide, ethnic cleansing and eventual mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandit’s from the Kashmir valley on January 19, 1990. The aim is to draw the attention of US lawmakers and law makers from other countries to the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit’s and terror activities of Pakistan.
Speaking to thenews21.com from New Jersey, IAFK office bearer and entrepreneur Dev Karlekar informed the idea of holding a commemorative event at TVAsia auditorium in Edison, New Jersey was (a) to commemorate the genocide of Kashmiri Pandit’s that began on January 19, 1990 and (b) to recognize the resiliency and noble spirit of survivors of that community.
He added that the event has been designed to present the truth, data and factual eyewitness accounts as well as current events and progress in restoration of peace in Kashmir. Karlekar disclosed that Bollywood actor Anupam Kher will be the chief guest and is expected to be attended by Senator’s from the Republican as well as Democrats, a delegation from the office of the Governor (Chief Minister) of New Jersey, Mayor’s from some prominent cities have agreed to attend the event.
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Karlekar disclosed that simultaneous events have been planned like candlelight vigil in Illinois at City Hall in Naperville. In Canada, the Indo-Canadian Kashmir forum is holding an event in Toronto. A seminar is also being organised in Berlin, Germany.
In UK, events are being held across London, Nuneaton, Manchester, Oxford, Walsall and Glasgow. British members of Parliament, heads of major UK socio-political organisations and political analysts are to attend the events organized by the Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society (KPCS-UK) and the Indo-European Kashmir Forum (IEKF), both European affiliates of GKPD.
Similar events are being held in major cities of Australia like Perth, Brisbane, Queensland and Melbourne. In Queensland, Hawan is being performed and Prayers are being offered by Kashmiri Pandits Australia (KPA), affiliated to GKPD. In Perth, Western Australia a commemorative meeting is being held at the War Memorial at Kings Park. In New Zeland, seminars are being organized at Auckland and at Wellington.
In India too similar events and functions are being held at Jagati camp in Jammu where several thousands Kashmiri’s still live in transit camps and tents. In New Delhi, a book reading on genocide literature by an eminent Kashmiri Pandit author has been organised at Vasant Vihar Club. Similar event has been organised at Kashmir Sabha in Kolkata.
The theme and focus of these seminars and commemorative events is around the life in exile of the Kashmiri Pandit’s, Genocide, Ethnic cleansing and global terrorism. Karlekar pointed out that even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India has observed that the circumstances that forced out the entire minority of Kashmiri Pandit’s from their homeland is akin to genocide.
To commemorate this sad day, the GKPD, its partners and affiliated organisations across the globe are organizing series of events to remind the world that 30 years later justice is still awaited. Karlekar disclosed that the IAFK is bringing data based well documented information about the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits. He further added that the events are being deliberately kept non-political so that people in these countries irrespective of their political affiliations attend the events.
Many prominent personalities like Canada based Pakistani Tv show presenter Tahir Gora of Tag Tv, Renee Lynn, Bollywood actor Pallavi Joshi, Bollywood producer Vivek Agnihotri, Veer Savarkar’s grandson Ranjit Savarkar, Francois Gautier, Col. Ashok Kher and Suresh Chavanke of Sudarshan Tv have pledged their support to the events and to the cause of the Kashmiri Pandit’s
