COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Kashmiri pandits's world convention in New Delhi

Prominent people including film personalities Anupam Kher, Mahesh Bhatt and Shatrughan Sinha are expected to attend the World Convention of Kashmiri Pandits scheduled in New Delhi on January 30 and 31.

The convention, being organised by the Panun Kashmir Movement, a representative organisation of the 300,000-odd Pandits who have migrated from the valley in the last nine years, will deliberate on their future course of action.

"The convention will highlight various aspects of the Pandits's rich cultural heritage and the problems they have faced," a PKM spokesman said.

It will also discuss the historical homeland resolution which was endorsed at the first World Convention in 1991.

Criticising the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments, the spokesman said all the promises made by them had proved hollow.

''The lack of courage and will to address the problems smacks of a conspiracy to perpetuate the exile of the Pandits,'' he said.

He said the state government's sub-committee, set up to come with an action plan for the Pandits's return, had not given any tangible suggestions except for a few monetary incentives and an outlandish proposal to set up transit settlements in three towns.

''The action plan was an eyewash," he said.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report