Sachin Phadte wrote: The issues that HJS is taking are not rooted in the past. The issue of ethnic cleansing of the Kashimiri Pandits is within the last twenty years. The issue of conversions by some of the churches is of the recent past. Could the HJS have taken up the issues in a 'dignified' manner? Perhaps. But for this to happen, we should not disucss only the manner in which the discussions are taken, but also the content. For example, on the Kashmiri Pandit, even today they are saying that the various governmentes, including the NDA, have badly let them down. I have read in the papers that many Kashmiri Pandits have been killed over the last twenty years - but not a single person has been prosecuted for the crimes.
Comment: 1. More Muslims have suffered and died in the Kashmir violence than Hindus.Does this matter to the HJS?(refer to the last issue of Outlook for more stories on Kashmiri widows) 2.The issue of conversions is a bogey raised from time to time to beat and subdue the christians.Please cite cases where prosecutions have been launched and also cite how many convictions have been carried out in the last 50 years. 3.The BJP was in power for 6 years. Dr Farooq Abdullah was a partner in the NDA govt. Please explain what stopped them from rehabilitating the Kashmiri Pandits. Or is it that they are being used as fodder to secure votes and build vote banks, just as the victims of the Godhra train fire? 4.Muslims have been victims in Gujarat, Bhiwandi, Ajmer, Hyderabad, Sikhs have been victims in Delhi, Christians have been victims in Orissa, Gujarat and several other parts of India, Dalits have been victims all over the country for over 2000 years. Why does the HJS heart bleed only selectively? Are the others any less? 5. Besides inciting hatred, has there been any postive contibution by HJS in building a peaceful and harmonious society? 6.Please refer to the Times of India of 5th May, 2008 which carries reports of the UPA govt announcing a rehabilitation programme for the Kashmiri Pandits. Regards, Marshall Mendonza
