Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal this morning led a protest over targeted killings of Kashmiri pandits in Jammu and Kashmir. The protest organized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at Jantar Mantar focused on four key demands regarding Kashmiri pandit community in the valley.
Kejriwal addressing the public said that the Kashmiri pandits are continuously living in fear in Jammu and Kashmir and that the Centre must take decisive action regarding their protection. He said that first he demanded that the Centre draft a proper action plan to stop targeted killings and secondly provide security for Kashmiri pandits. He further said that the Centre must cancel bonds signed with Kashmiri pandits that says they cannot work outside of the valley state and lastly\ be prepared to fulfil their demands.
Stressing that Kashmir will always be a part of India, Kejriwal warned Pakistan against using petty tactics that will lead to communal violence in the valley.
The AAP supremo’s comments come as the valley state has witnessed killing of 13 civilian Kashmiri pandits in last three months. Union home minister Amit Shah had recently held a high-level meeting with J&K Lt governor Manoj Singha, and NSA Ajit Doval over the matter.
Furthermore, Kejriwal also challenged Narendra Modi-led government over increase of targeted killings of Kashmiri pandits. “The era of 1990 has come again. They (government) don’t have any plan. Whenever there is a murder in the Valley, news comes that the home minister has called a high-level meeting, enough of these meetings, now we need action, Kashmir wants action,” he said.
AAP took to twitter and said, “The dumb-deaf government of BJP has made Kashmir the den of its cheap politics. No school, no hospital, no employment.. If given blood of innocent, open terrorism like 1990, and exodus of 80% Kashmiri Hindus. The whole country stands with Kashmir. We will never tolerate the killing of our brothers and sisters!”
Kejriwal also alleged that the state administration led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has failed in Jammu and Kashmir as it is stopping Kashmiri pandit community to hold protest against the killings. “When they (Kashmiri Pandits) protest against the targeted killings, the present BJP government in Kashmir does not allow them to protest. If the government behaves like this, the suffering of the people becomes double, ” he said.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also took a jibe at the BJP and the CEntre saying that the ministers were just shedding crocodile tears over the movie, The Kashmir Files. “Today, Kashmiri Pandits are being massacred. I want to ask Modi ji where are your ministers, MPs and MLAs hiding right now?” Singh said.
