Khajuria S Kant in Jammu
To force the migration of minorities (Hindus) from the erstwhile Doda district, Kishtwar riots were a part of the deep rooted conspiracy hatched from across the border and not merely the outcome of an altercation between two individuals.
Kishtwar riots were part of the new strategy of “agitational terrorism” being adopted by those who have been giving directions to the terrorists from across the border. The new strategy has been put in place to terrorise the minorities of the area, who have not fled their homes despite number of carnages.
The roots of Kishtwar violence lie in the communal violence of 1931 in Valley which was perpetrated against the then Maharaja of the State and minority Hindus in Kashmir forcing them to leave the Valley. The minorities of Kashmir were similarly subjected to violence and mayhem on a large scale, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction, as happened in 1931.
After all, they have been paying since 1932 “floral tributes” to the over 20 rebels who were killed on July 13, 1931 in front of and near the Central Jail Srinagar during the police-crowd clashes. These rebels were hampering the judicial proceedings started against a non-state subject Abdul Qadir, who had been preaching communalism and sedition since years and provoking Kashmiri Muslims to rise in revolt against Maharaja Hari Singh and his Government. The State Government and Kashmiri Muslims observe July 13 as “Martyrs’ Day” while displaced Kashmiri Hidus observe this day as “Black Day”.
These were the observations made by the speakers at a seminar on “Kishtwar —Reminiscent of Kashmir 1931” held at Jammu.
The speakers expressed their shock and dismay at the violence perpetrated on the helpless minority community in Kishtwar.
The speakers challenged the grant of public Holiday on July 13, saying that when there is no holiday on Martyrs’ Day of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30 how Sheikh Abdullah after coming to power announced public holiday on Martyrs Day in 1977 which is un-constitutional. If at all the martyrs’ holiday was to be granted to the State it should be on the day when Brig Rajinder Singh a great warrior attained martyrdom.
The panelists in the seminar, organised by the J&K Civil Society, included Member of Legislative Assembly, Ashwani Sharma, Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party (JKNPP) leader and MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia and BJP state chief spokesperson and columnist, Dr. Jitendra Singh. Others, who participated in the debate, included Prof. RL Kaul, an expert on Kashmir, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo from Panun Kashmir, Deeneshwar Singh Jamwal and Virender Raina.
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