New Delhi, 19 January 2013

A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits today morning met BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi ahead of the national council meet of party. They submitted memorandum on return of displaced Kashmiris.

Narendra Modi tweets:

No words will ever explain the extent of suffering Kashmiri Pandits experienced. Justice towards the community remains our firm commitment.

Injustice to Kashmiri Pandits is not only an attack on their rights but an attack on our national ideal of Sarva Pantha Sambhav.

Details of the meeting

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi endorsed a strong feeling of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and assured them that their safe return and dignified rehabilitation to the Valley is a commitment of BJP which will work together with the community to re-establish their centuries old traditions on soil of Jammu & Kashmir.

A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday met Shri Narendra Modi and submitted a memorandum to him requesting his intervention to solve their various issues; the community is facing since 1990 in Kashmir.

Shri Modi said that 24 years ago, on January 19, 1990, Kashmiri Pandits were made to leave their homeland. It was an attack on not only a community but their centuries old tradition. What displaced Kashmiris are facing today is not a fight against injustice meted out to them but how to ensure reinstating of their lost tradition back in the valley, he added.

Shri Modi, after meeting the delegation, said “injustice to Kashmiri Pandits is not only an attack on their rights but an attack on our national ideal of Sarva Pantha Sambhav.

“No words will ever explain the extent of suffering Kashmiri Pandits experienced. Justice towards the community remains our firm commitment,” he said.

The delegation honoured Shri Narendra Modi with traditional Kashmiri attire and other handicrafts.

Importance of 19th January for Kashmiri Pandits

Kashmiri Pandits are in exile for last 24 years. It was this day(19 January 1990) when Kashmiri Pandits were massacred, forcibly converted, Hindu women were raped and forced to leave Kashmir by their Muslim neighbors. Around 5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits became refugee in their own country. Kashmiri Pandits are organizing a silent protest today at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

On January 19th night in 1990, slogans against Kashmiri Pandits were chanted: “We want our Pakistan, without Pandit men, but with their women.”

At 10 pm on this night 24 years ago, hundreds of thousands of people assembled in mosques in Kashmir and frenzied mobs on streets.

Other slogans on the streets directed at the women folk were: Hey Pandit women, may your hair catch fire, and Dil mein rakho Allah ka khauf, haath mein rakho Kashnikof(Kalashnikov rifle), La sharqiya, la garbiya, Islamia, Islamia.

In next few months, more than 700 innocent Kashmiri Hindus were brutally murdered and over 35000 were forced into exile.

In Sopore young girls jumped from windows to save themselves from violent mob. Scientist KL Ganjoo, wife Prana abducted as they just sat to break their fast. Ganjoo was shot on the banks of Jhelum, Prana’s body was never found. Assistant teacher Girja Tiku was abducted by her own neighbors, colleagues. She was gang raped in a moving car, cut alive on an electric saw. Poet Sarwanand Kaul and his son were taken away in South Kashmir. All valuables were looted. Their bodies were found hanging a day later. Nails dug in forehead. In Shopian, a poor driver and his wife tied to a jeep and dragged to death. Hindu neighbor cremated them later in own house. Not a single conviction has taken place in all the brutal murders of the Hindu minority in Kashmir. More than 600 temples were vandalized and destroyed.

Also read: 19/01/90: When Kashmiri Pandits fled Islamic terror