Hurriyat reacts: says they will vacate land if not sold
By News Agency of Kashmir
New Delhi/Jammu: ‘Roots In Kashmir’ an initiative of kashmiri pandit youth today announced three point formula in response to the recent statement of Hurriyat leader(Mirwaiz faction) Saleem Geelani, wherein he has apologized for what they called ‘ill-treated KP’s’ was a surprise change in Hurriyat Policy.
The organization has announced three point formulas for Hurriyat to act if they really want KP’s back to valley.
In a mailed press release, the spokesman of the initiative said that through the apology Hurriyat has admitted that the Kashmiri Pandit community was wronged and hence admit of guilt on behalf of the majority community.
The release further said that Salim Geelani, Spokesperson for Hurriyat (Mirwaiz faction) on 20th of this month in an event organized by ‘Roots In Kashmir’ , wherein the Hurriyat has apologized to the Kashmiri Pandit community and also called occupation of properties of Kashmiri pandit as unislamic.
“After discussing the issue at different levels a meeting of ‘RIK’ was held”, statement said adding that in general, it was believed that moving forward and believing the truth was a positive sign in resolving the gap between the two communities.
“The statement albeit late is a surprise change in Hurriyat Policy, which till date had not admitted the role of the “jehadis” in victimization and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits”, said the statement adding that through this admission of Hurriyat that the Kashmiri Pandit community has been wronged and hence tendered an apology on behalf of the majority community.
“RIK wishes to take the whole affair forward so that the confidence among Kashmiri Pandit would be built”, it said and added we want that the statements of Hurriyat Spokesperson should be proven on the ground level as well.
Putting forth their three point formulas for Hurriyat to fallow includes (1) let Hurriyat starts re-building of at least 15 different temples across the valley list of which would be provided by Roots In Kashmir. These 15 temples are among hundred of temples destroyed in last 17 years.
(2) The second reads as “Hurriyat needs to demand that the killers of Kashmiri pandits be bought to Justice and should join the movement of ‘Roots In Kashmir’ and demand action against at least ‘Yasin Malik & Bitta Karate’, which according to them would infuse confidence in Kashmiri pandits”
(3) The third and last formula which they believe would minimize the gap between the two communities is Properties of Kashmiri pandits, encroached by the majority community as being termed ‘un-Islamic’ by the Hurriyat should be returned back.
“Once given points are accomplished, both Pandits and Muslims can sit across the tables so as to discuss further confidence building measures”, release of RIK said.
“We believe that the Hurriyat should take the formulas and proposals seriously, which in a large way would pave the path of Confidence Building Measures”, statement added.
The main purpose of ‘RIK’ is to help the issue in moving from dark chamber of horrors into the light, to find a way by which the minds of men, the hopes of men, the souls of men everywhere, can move forward towards peace and happiness and well-being, statement further added.
In this mission, RIK knows that we must not lack patience. “We know that in a community divided, such as Kashmir’s are today, salvation cannot be attained by one spectacular act”.
We know that many steps will have to be taken over many months before the world can look at itself one day and truly realize that a new climate of mutually peaceful confidence is abroad in Kashmir. But RIK knows, above all else that Hurriyat must start to take action on the above mentioned three points now.
When asked to react on the statement issued by “RIK’ Saleem Geelani, Hurriyat conferences (MG) convenor for Jammu told News Agency of Kashmir that the demand put forth the ‘Root’s In Kashmir’ would not help in resolving the issue in any way”, adding, “We have infact charted out some measures to be taken in bringing them back and at first the intellectual class of the community would be invited to kashmir” he said adding, maximum conferences would be appreciated if the cream of the community would participated.
Reacting sharply on demand of action against the JKLF leaders is concerned, Geelani said that it was a political and they must know only KP’s were not killed hundreds of Muslim youth were killed by the forces for no fault of theirs which, he said is evident from the recent custodial killings that surfaced in kashmir.
“we believe that whose so ever religious place is damaged it becomes our moral duty to renovate it”, he said adding that Hurriyat was never in favour of damaging any religious place whether it was of Kashmir Pandits or Muslims.
On land encroachment, Geelani said “if the land is occupied by the Muslim neighbor or any other member of majority member Hurriyat will get it back from them but the land which has been sold we are not responsible for that land”, adding, “Hurriyat was ready to cooperate any member in vacating the land from illegal occupant if it was not sold to him”.
Meanwhile, RIK representative from Jammu, Veer Ji Saraf, when contacted told News Agency of Kashmir that three points suggested by RIK could be discussed and the ultimate goal is to make an atmosphere so that the return of the community is possible. “Not only RIK but the whole community want to reconcile things, so this would be in larger interest if the confidence building measure are discussed at length instead of issuing statements.
“See we can’t live freely if the killers who so ever they are would be punished” Veer Saraf said adding, in case KP’s will return they like to live in a fearless environment.