[Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley

[S. Jabbar]

Wow, that's pretty strong language, Murtaza.  You know Vijay, as I do.  In
all these years I really can't say I've seen him being communal or even
using communal language in anything he's written or advocated.  I think he
ought to have a chance in defending himself.  Will you forward this
discussion or should I?

I really posted his email in good faith thinking it may help diffuse some of
this horrid Jammu Hindu/Pandit-Kashmiri Muslim divide that's dominated the
Reader's List for some time, little realizing that this too will add fuel to
the fire.  What a pity.

sj


On 8/30/08 2:24 PM, "Kashmir Affairs" <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Sonia,
I would like to take this opportunity to expressly condemn Vijay Sazwal
> for yet again playing mischif against Kashmiri Muslims. In his 'appreciating
> guise' on Kashmiri Civil Society, he is carrying on his propaganda against
> Muslims and cooking up stories about imaginery harrassement. Pandit groups,
> mainly believed to be working for IB, have been doing this for more than two
> decades now.
If Vijay is telling the truth, which i don't believe, he must
> mention the incidents rather than spreading false stories. As much i
> appreciate personal contact with him i have had with with for few years now, I
> have to condemn him for his mischief and spreading lies against the Kashmiri
> Muslims majority at the behest of I don't know who. By doing it once again, he
> has sided with rabid-anti-Kashmiri forces including various Pandit groups, who
> are allegedly being spreading rumours and propaganda against Kashmiris. A
> personal friend, Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo, is on record about Vijay Sazwal
> launching a campaign against Prof. Hangloo for not blaming Kashmiri Muslims
> and Islam for the current trouble in Kashmir. Moreover, Vijay has been part of
> propaganda brigade that has been spreading lies about Kashmiri Muslims and
> talking about so-called Holocaust of Pandits when only 209 Pandits died in the
> crisis as compared to 150,000 Muslims majority of them by the
 Indian army and
> paramilitary forces.

I don't see any appreciation in Vijay's letter. It is
> all venomous propganda against the Muslims.
best,
Murtaza

--- On Sat,
> 30/8/08, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
From: S. Jabbar
> <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in
> Kashmir Valley
To: "Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, 30 August,
> 2008, 7:56 AM

A note of appreciation from a Pandit organisation for the
> appeal sent out by
Khurram and others.


------ Forwarded Message
From: "Dr.
> Vijay Sazawal" <sazawal at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:41:58 -0400
To:
> <vks at kashmirforum.org>
Subject: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley

Dear
> Friend,

I am sending this note to just a few friends in the valley to let
> them know
that the minority community currently residing in the valley - which
> is down
to a few thousand now - greatly appreciates the following gesture by
> the
civil society in Kashmir (see attached story in the Kashmir Observer).

I
> have spoken to valley based Kashmiri Pandits almost on a daily basis.
> Even
though the local media did not highlight the fears of the minority
> community
earlier, the reality is that last week they had a very rough time.
> There
were numerous incidents in Pulwama, Anantnag, and Srinagar and
> Baramulla
where Pandit homes or persons were surrounded by a few ruffians
> and
subjected to oral threats ranging from, "Are you still here - when are
> you
going away to Jammu," to "time has come to burn your place and we
will
> not
let you or your family escape."

Again, I want to make it clear that I
> hold no one among you or any leader
among the majority community responsible
> for it. But the reality is that it
did happen and it is to the credit of a few
> Pandit leaders who calmed the
community down. I will appreciate if journalists
> would mention in their
columns that harming or even mildly threatening Pandits
> is not helpful to
their cause whatever that may be.

Thank you for your help
> in this matter. If anyone needs further details, I
will be glad to provide the
> same.

Regards,

Vijay Sazawal
www.KashmirForum.org
> <http://www.KashmirForum.org>
Washington, DC


Kashmir Civil Society Calls
> For Ceasefire
Srinagar, Aug 29- Kashmir civil society has expressed concern
> over reports
in New Delhi based media about possible attacks¹ on minorities in
> Kashmir
and have urged upon the governments and the militant leadership to
> implement
a comprehensive ceasefire in the wake of present peaceful people¹s
> movement
to realise the right of self-determination.
They have also urged the
> community and religious leaders, political parties,
militant leadership and
> government to ensure the utmost respect and
tolerance for the minorities.
²We
> the conscientious people of Jammu and Kashmir believe and uphold that
the
> human life and its dignity are sacrosanct and in this regard we feel
deeply
> concerned and aggrieved over the news story carried by sections of
Indian
> media on 28th August 2008, in which it is reported that the
> Indian
Intelligence agency has expressed fears about the possible attacks
> on
minorities in Kashmir², a signed statement by several prominent citizens
> and
groups said today.
³Since 1989 there have been some massacres of minority
> communities under
mysterious circumstances, which created an atmosphere of
> fear and mistrust
amongst the communities. It is surprising that every time
> these killings
take place, the people¹s movement of Kashmir is at a critical
> phase. The
killings of Kashmiri Pandits in early 1990s or the massacre of 36
> Sikhs at
Chittisingpora in 2000 (during the visit of US President Bill
> Clinton) or
killings of innocent Hindus at Kulhand and other places creates an
> aura of
mystery around all these cold blooded killings. Investigations ordered
> by
government to probe these killings have always been inconclusive.
> Bill
Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States in his foreword to
> Madeline
Albright¹s book titled ³Mighty and the Almighty² has clearly accused
> Hindu
fanatics of massacring innocent Sikhs at Chittisingpora², the
> statement
said.
The statement is signed besides others by  Grand Mufti, Mufti
> Mohammad
Bashiruddin, Mirwaiz Riyaz Hamdani of Shah Hamdan Mosque, Agha Syed
> Hassan
Mosavi of Anjumane Sharie Shiayan, Islamic Study Circle, Jammu
> Kashmir
Coalition of Civil Society, Chamber of Commerce and Industries
> Kashmir,
Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owner¹s Federation, Valley Citizens
> Council,
Chairman Kashmir Traders Federation and Noor Ahmed Bilal ­ President
> Kashmir
University Teachers Association. ³In the present scenario where
> the
non-violent mass uprising for the attainment of right to
> self-determination
of people of Jammu and Kashmir is resonating not just in
> India but also in
the International media and institutions, the reported
> threat to minority
communities whether Hindus or Sikhs is a serious concern
> for the civil
society of Kashmir², it said.
³In view of the above mentioned
> concern, we urge upon the community leaders,
religious leaders, political
> parties, militant leadership and government to
ensure the utmost respect and
> tolerance for the minorities and refrain from
any such act which makes the
> lives of minorities uncomfortable. The
minorities should not be treated as the
> cannon fodder to carry out the
agenda of vested interests in sabotaging the
> people¹s movement of Kashmir.
In the wake of present peaceful people¹s
> movement to realise the right of
self-determination, the only democratic
> process for peace making, we urge
upon the governments and the militant
> leadership to implement a
comprehensive ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. We the
> people of Jammu and
Kashmir while welcoming the United Jihad Council¹s
> recently announced
statement, in which they promised to halt their activities
> within civilian
areas, request them to broaden the scope of their statement
> into a
comprehensive ceasefire covering the entire Indian administered Jammu
> and
Kashmir. This would also mean their respect and primacy to the
> people¹s
movement.²
The statement further urged the government of India to
> halt the brutal use
of force against the people and respect the people¹s right
> to assembly and
freedom of expression both in Kashmir and Jammu terming the
> arrests and the
killings unacceptable.
³We consider this as the testing time
> for all of us as humans. We certainly
have been victimised but the challenge
> for the conscientious people is
always to be humane besides being politically
> correct², the statement said.
³In the present situation where the political
> leadership has been arrested,
communications blocked, curfew imposed, there is
> every likelihood that
situation may descend into chaos. It is therefore we
> urge international
community to take cognizance of the situation where in the
> whole population
of Kashmir is being pushed towards the wall. For
> international institutions
it is the time to intervene for preventing the
> catastrophe and for the
restoration of people¹s rights², the statement
> added.
³We take this opportunity to assure our Hindu and Sikh brethren who
> form the
inseparable part of our cultural and political mosaic that they will
> find
their Muslim brethren besides always. Whatever be the circumstances we
> have
lived and suffered together and would continue to strive together for
> our
political emancipation².
Others who have signed the statement include
> prominent physician, Dr. Altaf
Hussain, columnist Arjimand Hussain Talib,
> academics Dr Hameeda Bano, Prof
Shaikh Showkat Hussain, Dr Noor Ahmed Baba and
> poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef.


------ End of Forwarded
> Message

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