Srinagar: A two-day seminar on “Human Rights Violations by terrorists and how these have impacted Kashmiri citizens in the last 30 years”, commenced today at BB Cantt Srinagar, said PRO (Defence) Srinagar.
“Twenty one subject experts, including research scholars, social activists, government officials and intellectuals from within and outside Kashmir, having proficiency in the subject, are participating,” the PRO said.
In his opening address, Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps said that while rightly the State is responsible and accountable for maintenance of high standards of Human Rights in all activities, “it is a fact that Human Rights get curtailed in a conflict region due to security concerns”. “The curtailment of the Human Rights is pushed by the terrorists’ nexus, which uses the power of the gun to establish its writ on the citizens. J&K has seen acts of curtailment of Human Rights violations by terrorists due to threats, killings, disrupting education and economic activity and denial of freedom of speech,” the PRO quoted Lt Gen Pandey as saying.
“He highlighted that the local, national and international HR groups and media houses, who have been vocal about alleged human rights in the past, have been totally silent about the recent killings of eleven innocents in Kashmir Valley. He exhorted the audience to question and hold the Pakistan affiliates responsible for the denial of basic rights of economic activity, education, entertainment and freedom. He further remarked that the aim of the seminar is to discuss these and deliberate on the way ahead,” the PRO said.
“In his keynote address, Lt Gen Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC spoke about Jammu & Kashmir’s deep and organic connect in geostrategic realm in Indian sub-continent. He spoke about intrinsic civilizational, literary, cultural and historic connect that J&K has enjoyed being part of India, in the past five millennia. The GOC-in-C, ARTRAC asked the society to reverse the sense of supposed alienation and promote a multicultural and inclusive society. He asked them to stand in unison and raise their voice against the Pakistani nexus which denies Kashmiri people the basic human rights that are intrinsic to any civilized and just society,” he said.
“The seminar is being conducted over five sessions over two days and is being attended by large number of people from all walks of life. The seminar proceedings were broadcast live to civil and military audience at Kupwara, Baramulla, Awantipur, Sharifabad, Delhi, Shimla, Nagrota and Udhampur. The talk by the panelists was also streamed live over Chinar Corps Facebook page,” he added.
