25 years of exile : Kher, celebs stand by Kashmiri padits

Kher,  a veteran actor and Kashmiri pandit, changed his Twitter account’s display photograph to a black one with 25YearsofKPExile written in red. He has urged his followers to do the same.

In solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits who complete 25 years in exile today, please change your DP. #25YearsofKPExile," he twitted.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also spoke his mind though not being from the community.

"We whole-heartedly support d battle Kashmiri Pandits r waging to get back their homes.It's time their struggle bore fruits."

"When one is displaced from their roots the trauma is beyond words.This exile is etched with deep pain in every heart," Bhandarkar said.

"25 years ago, they tried to erase us from our homeland. We are the survivors," writes journalist Chitra Subramaniam.

" We highlight human rights abuses worldwide, address UN forums, draft resolutions etc. but remain mute to #25YearsofKPExile," she says.

Swapan Dasgupta, another celebrated journalist, says in his Twitter :"Remembering with sorrow this day 25 years ago."

Fomer Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rues that not a single film has been made on the plight of Kashmiri pandits, who for long have to live away from their home."Since Kashmir Terrorism, how many commercial movies made on the plight of KPs is ZERO," he says.

Reports said in Jammu displaced Kashmiri Pandits urged the Centre to initiate a serious dialogue with the community leadership for its resettlement as they marked the 25th anniversary of their exodus and staged a symbolic protest.

"We appeal to government of India to initiate a serious dialogue with the leadership of the displaced community for its resettlement in the valley keeping in view their geo-political aspirations," Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president, Panun Kashmir, an organisation representing Kashmiri Pandits said.

He said the community has "first and natural right" over the territory of Kashmir.

"We would return only when our geo-political aspirations as per Margdarshan resolution are fulfilled through political and constitutional means," he said.

"The community was made the selected victim of terror and terrorism, murder and mayhem on a large scale resulting in its mass exodus from the valley."

"Genocide against the Kashmiri Pandit was used as a strong weapon to achieve ethnic cleansing by the fundamentalists and terrorists in Kashmir valley," he added.

Chrungoo said that diatribe against the community by separatist forces in Kashmir remains unabated despite complete banishment of the Pandits in Kashmir.

"It is the secessionist and terrorist forces who were responsible for the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits," he said.

The community leader said "persistent efforts" were made to "keep the community out of the politico-administrative setup of the state" thus enforcing it to get dispersed in due course of time.

"The Kashmiri Pandit community has a lot of expectations from the Central government and the new dispensation that will emerge in due course of time in the state," Chrungoo said.

The organisation also called for the early passage of the Kashmiri Temples and Shrines Bill in the state legislature.

All  parties migrant coordination committee (APMCC), Chairman Vinod Pandit said :
"We are holding a bigger protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to highlight our problems. Since we belong to Kashmir which is our homeland, we decided to hold a symbolic protest here also."