[Reader-list] Panun Kashmir spells out agenda, says battle for homeland in crucial phase

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

 Panun Kashmir spells out agenda, says battle for homeland in crucial phase

*HARMEET SINGH, Greater Kashmir

Link -
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=19_9_2008&ItemID=31&cat=6
*

Jammu, Sept 18: Panun Kashmir Convener, Dr Agnishekhar Thursday said that
the Kashmiri Pandit community had entered a crucial phase of battle to
achieve the target of homeland in Kashmir. "We have entered a crucial phase
of our battle and the community needs to be prepared and to grid up its
loins and coordination with the nationalist forces across the country
against the Islamic militancy and separatists forces operating in Kashmir,"
he said.

 Addressing the media here today he said that Panun Kashmir will hold the
third world Kashmiri Pandit conference on January 19 next year. "This
conference seeks to give a road map to the community for the attainment of
homeland," he said. "A special feature of the conference shall be the
participation of the representatives of over 55 lakh Saraswat Brahmins who
trace their ancestry to Kashmir. These Saraswat Brahmins scattered across
the country, have their origin in Kashmir and today some of them have the
surnames as Kamaths, Pais, Chenoys, Rais, Padhgaokars, Bhatts, Kesarvanis to
name a few."

 He said that in view of the success of recent Amarnath agitation and
endorsement of Panun Kashmir's stand for a separate homeland in Kashmir by
the BJP, the socio-political spectrum of Jammu has shown near unanimity on
the demand for homeland in Kashmir valley. "In this world conference Panun
Kashmir envisages that we shall cooperate and support the nationalistic
aspirations of the people of Jammu and Laddakh who have suffered
discrimination and neglect for the over sixty years at the hands of Kashmir
centric politicians," he said. "Panun Kashmir will provide a platform for
the people of Jammu and Laddakh to articulate their views before a national
audience".

 He urged the government that "15000 posts of Kashmiri Pandits that have
fallen vacant and subsequently filled by the local Muslims candidates and
regularized by the cabinet, be reserved for the Kashmiri Pandit youth who
are facing massive unemployment."