Ahead of the discussion on the European Union draft report on Kashmir in the EU parliament, leading Hindu outfits in Britain on Monday asked Indians worldwide to write to European parliamentarians urging them not to bow to pressure from Pakistan to amend the report, which has critical observations about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Representatives from the Hindu Forum of Britain, the National Council of Hindu Temples and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said the report makes an objective assessment of the poverty and lack of democracy in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the fate of over 1 million Kashmiri Hindus driven out of their homes by Pakistan-backed militants.
The draft report on 'Kashmir: Present Situation and Future Prospects' drafted by UK member of European Parliament Emma Nicholson will be discussed in the EU Parliament on Wednesday and was drafted following meetings by the MEP with both sides of the political divide in Jammu and Kashmir.
The UK Hindu organizations are urging the European parliament to adopt the report in its entirety, without making any of the 400 and off amendments sought by the Pakistan government.
"Ever since the report was released in November-end last year, Pakistan has activated its entire network across the globe, particularly in the European countries to ensure that the report is discarded," Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said.
"It would be very unfortunate if a report that presents an objective and unbiased view of the ground reality in Kashmir for the first time is altered due to political pressure from Pakistan. It is too important to be ignored and we urge Indians from all over the world to write to Baroness Nicholson and the European Parliament to ensure that report's recommendations are adopted," Kallidai said.
The report raises questions about the democratic credentials of the Pakistani government, and its commitment to the people and institutions in PoK. It says that the earthquake, which killed over 75,000 people, has made 'everyday life virtually impossible for millions of people who were already among some of the most disadvantaged in the region.
The draft report credits India for its prompt response to the natural disaster and applauds the way it handled the emergency and helped to re-house the 30,000 who lost their homes.
However, it was critical of the already minimal basic rights enjoyed by Pakistani Kashmiris before the earthquake, which has been compounded by a lack of democracy and oppressive and unjust laws, especially those applicable to women.
Sudarshan Bhatia, president of the National Council of Hindu Temples, said, "The Committee on Foreign Affairs after a thorough investigation has produced an authentic, genuine and impartial report on the state of affairs within both parts of Kashmir. The report is totally free from vested interests and the reality of the problems in Kashmir are recognized and justly addressed. It should not be changed."