Chennai people besieged on Kashmir issue

A packed auditorium rose in unison to reaffirm that Kashmir is an integral part of Bharath. More than 650 members across various age groups listened in rapt attention to Shri. N. Sadagopan, State Publicity Chief, RSS – North TN, who gave a very detailed factual information on the history and current situation of Kashmir. He gave a detailed overview of the Kashmir situation right from the early 20th century to the accession, the wars that were fought, the bravery of the defence forces, the agreements that were made and that were not honoured, the mistakes that were committed by the political leadership and the opportunities that were lost in solving the issue once for all. He also gave an insight into the plight of the Kashmiri Pundits and their current situation.

Vedavyas Khusru a Kashmiri Swayamsevak presently living in Chennai spoke on his personal experience. He is a Kashmiri Swayamsevak (II year) of Baramulla District, Doctorate in Philosophy. He was a Secretary in ABVP activities during 1975. 26 years before he was thrown out of his native land Kashmir. He is also associated with Bharath Vikas Parishad. “Namathu Kashmir Iyakkam” was started in Chennai on his perseverance. Shri Vedavyas Kusro of Baramulla District, (then Varahamur) 1990’s gave a first person’s account of the atrocities that were perpetrated on them. He lost 22 of his family members in the violence that was let loose on them. He highlighted on the geographical aspect, cultural aspect of Kashmir. He was overwhelmed by the response in Chennai which is down South for the Kashmir issue. According to his speech, “Jammu & Kashmir is divided into three divisions. Kashmir is a valley surrounded by Himalayas. Jammu is the land which is offshoot of Punjab. Ladakh is a place of Mangolian race, which is different from the two. Baramulla District hardly had 200 houses. My father is a staunch RSS person, and a patriotic. This is the eyesore to the militants. They wanted to eliminate our family. We were the landlords there. When a marriage function took place on 22-10-1947, 22 of my family members were shot dead. One of his family members pretended to be dead and fell into the valley and escaped. That is how our family survived.”

Pointing out the Kashmir – an integral part of Bharat, he questioned “If Kashmir is not an integral part of Bharath, What for Omar Abdullah the Chief Minister of Kashmir? What for Mahabooba Syed is there in Parliament? It is the Government strategy to keep the innocent Kashmiris to be away from the mainland (Bharat). When we listen to Akashwani All India Radio-it starts with “This Government media controlled by the Government of India – Radio Kashmir-Srinagar…..” This is a small thing, but it has created an impact that we are different from mainland.

When we read newspapers, we learn that stone pelting is because of poverty faced by Kashmiris. Around 80,000 crores of rupees have been allocated in the past 21 years for eradication of poverty, unemployment who are deprived of rights. Where is the money gone? He also called upon the people “why their community is kept away when any discussion or dialogue takes place as we are the part of the dialogue.”

Ma. Shri. K. Suryanarayana Rao, Senior Leader – RSS gave an insight into the role of our politicians and also the role played by media agencies and the political leaders in brushing aside the ethnic cleansing of the Kashmir Pundits and not highlighting it but giving undue importance to the separatists and anti-national forces. He encouraged the audience to get informed and share the information with friends and family. He mentioned that taking positive determined action rather than lamenting about the sorry state of affairs is the need of the hour.+

After the function which went on well, we received some of the good response even from the public. One incident is: two auto-drivers are invited to the function. They were so pleased on the speech, factual information, which were up to their level and overwhelmed to take this information to the public. In another incident, a staunch DMK member Sri Natarajan of Kovur who attended the function was also pleased with the factual information and felt for the suppression of the facts to the public by the media and the Government.

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