BJP seek impartial inquiry into Pandit exodus
Says prevailing situation of J&K outcome of ‘rigged elections’ of 1987
Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday sought an impartial enquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge into the alleged ‘genocide’ and subsequent ‘exodus’ of Kashmiri Pandit’s from the Valley as depicted ‘The Kashmir Files’ film.
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the saffron party also attributed the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir as fallout of the 1987 elections, which according to the party, were rigged by National Conference and Congress for their vested political interests.
Addressing a press conference at the party head office here, BJP general secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul sought an impartial enquiry into the ‘exodus’ of the Kashmiri Pandits.
“The abscess had burst a long back in Kashmir and the onus lies on the National Conference; now they try to save their skin which I think does not make any difference. Leaders of the Pandit community from the very onset of the release of the movie (The Kashmir Files) are demanding an impartial inquiry to bring facts to fore. We also want a white paper, a probe by a retired SC judge into the events shown in the movie,” Kaul said.
He also accused the then ruling Congress for ‘toppling’ an elected chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mir Qasim to pave way for the rule of the NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who he alleged was facing many allegations.
Kaul said the Congress made a “historic blunder” by replacing Mir Qasim with Sheikh Abdullah as chief minister of the erstwhile state.
“Whatever we Kashmiris face at the moment is the outcome of the 1987 election which was rigged by NC and Congress for their vested political interests. Those who had lost elections were declared as winners and winners were declared as losers. Had 1987 elections not been rigged, the situation would have been altogether different in the UT,” he added.
Kaul while reiterating his demand for holding an impartial inquiry into the story depicted in ‘The Kashmir Files’ said the Government of India must set up a commission to bring the facts to light.
Meanwhile, in Jammu displaced Kashmiri Pandits also demanded setting up of a “commission of inquiry” to probe the killings and exodus of the community from Kashmir in 1990.
“We demand setting up of a commission to probe the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and their exodus. The probe should also include investigation into three massacres of Pandits who had preferred to sit back in the valley,” president of Muthi Kashmiri Migrant camp Anil Bhan told reporters at a function held on the 19th anniversary of the Nadimarg massacre.
“The probe should also include circumstances, political involvement, administrative and police failure, creation of environment of terror and burning of properties and encroachments of lands of Pandits that led to the exodus of the community,” he said.
“We hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP will order a probe and provide us justice. We have been seeking justice for the past 32 years,” Bhan said.
