Indo European Kashmiri Forum (IEKF) in conjunction with Hindu Council UK (HCUK)
“Conference on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus”
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Indo European Kashmir Forum (IEKF), it gives me great pleasure to invite you to attend and participate in the conference on the human rights of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus and the political aspects of Kashmir, to be held:
ON: Thursday 4th September 2014
AT: Committee Room 11, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA (Please use the Cromwell Green visitors entrance).
TIME: 11.00am – 2.00pm (Please allow yourself half an hour extra for security checks).
Marcus Jones MP – Member of Parliament for Nuneaton, Warwickshire and Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Kashmir, will be hosting the Conference.
The main purpose of the IEKF and the UK Kashmiri Pandit /Hindu conference is to express our grave concerns over the forthcoming debate in the UK Parliament on the violations of human rights in Kashmir. The debate in question has been secured by David Ward MP-Member of Parliament for Bradford East, on behalf of the Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement Europe. This debate has been granted as a result of over 50 MPs, 10 MEPs & Lords from all the British Political Parties, together with 100,000 members of the Kashmiri/Pakistan Community, who signed a petition asking the British Parliament to hold a special debate on the state of human rights in Kashmir.
However, IEKF believe, regrettably that some misguided Members of Parliament have supported this debate and it is for this reason that we have organised this conference in order to give the viewpoint of the Kashmiri Pandit/Hindu Community.
Armed resistance to Indian rule broke out in the Kashmir Valley in 1989, with some groups calling for independence and others for union with Pakistan. Caught in the middle, the minority community of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus who had lived in Kashmir for centuries – were forced to leave their homeland. They were driven out after a campaign of intimidation and harassment was launched against them by the military-wing of the secessionists. Kashmiri Pandits were forced from their homes at gun point and in fear of their lives. The objective of this ‘ethnic cleansing’ was to create a minority-free Kashmir valley where the goal of Islamization could be easily forced on the ordinary people. As India and Pakistan continue to squabble over the territory of Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits feel they have been forgotten…..Kashmir continues to be the land of their dreams, the subject of their poems and the inspiration behind their struggle. Many of the 500,000 refugee Kashmiri Pandits have been living in pitiable conditions in the Jammu region south of the Kashmir Valley, as well as in other parts of India. WATCH: http://youtu.be/xLbWaLLsxGQ
This 3 hour conference will be held in Committee Room 11, House of Commons, London, on 4th September 2014 from 11.00 am till 2.00 pm. The programme of the conference will include speeches and presentations by some experienced Kashmiri Political Activists, Kashmiri Hindu Community leaders and the representatives of the UK Hindu Organizations, followed by a Group Discussion.
The IEKF have also produced a comprehensive ‘Briefing Document‘, compiled with the help and support of our community activists: Vijay Sazawal (USA) and Dr Subramanian Swamy (India) and others. This briefing document with information about the plight of the ‘forgotten’ Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus has been sent to all UK Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords to fully inform and educate them prior to the debate which will take place soon at the Houses of Parliament.
We very much hope you will attend this conference to support the Kashmiri Pandits’ and the Kashmiri Hindus’ cause and help to make it a great success. If you are unable to come personally, you are requested to send a representative or a written message to the conference, expressing your support.
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THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
We look forward to welcoming you to this very important Conference. Please RSVP your attendance by contacting Krishna Bhan by Email: bhank17@live.co.uk
Entry to the Conference is by invitation only: Once you have sent your RSVP – please print off this invitation letter and bring it with you to gain entry into the House of Commons.
WATCH FURTHER VIDEOS OF THE PLIGHT OF KASHMIRI PANDITS/HINDUS:
http://youtu.be/CYzvoQDh1AE
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF KASHMIRI PANDITS/HINDUS:
The Kashmir issue has been given undue prominence in the media of the western countries the recent years. Jammu and Kashmir State is an integral part of India and whatever happens in that State is an entirely domestic matter of India.
However, Pakistan having failed to grab the whole Kashmir after three wars is now making strenuous efforts to enlist support from Britain in favour of the Azad Kashmiris living in the UK. The UK Kashmiri Hindu/Pandit community expresses grave concerns over the forthcoming debate in the Parliament on the violations of human rights and the right to the “Self Determination”. The debate has been secured by David Ward MP representing Bradford East. It is believed that this debate is scheduled for the Autumn 2014 and regrettably, some misguided British Politicians and some MPs have supported this debate.
This year 2014 will mark the 25th year since minorities in the beautiful Kashmir Valley had been driven out by Islamic fundamentalists and what was mostly a forced exodus of Kashmiri Hindus/Pandits and Sikhs has turned into ethnic cleansing .70,000 Hindu families and over 18,000 Sikh families lost their homes and hearth and some of them still live as refugees in the camps in Jammu and Delhi. Has the world community ever thought of their Human Rights? The Jammu and Kashmir Government in the Indian Administered part of Kashmir have refused to open any political or economic space to allow refugees to exercise their right of return to settle in their homeland.
The information about the alleged excesses by the Indian Security forces has been floated all over the world. It is evident that all the alleged stories of atrocities have been well planted to defame India and its Security forces who are trying to maintain law and order and safeguard lives. Dr Vijay Sazawal, a renowned author, who has extensively written on Kashmir and Kashmir conflict, writes about the Shopian Tragedy:-Triumph of Politics over Truth. “The Shopian incident involving deaths of two young women in Shopian is very serious and very tragic. Unfortunately, actions by police, doctors and family members following the mysterious deaths have only deepened the mystery .Last,
but not the least; political operatives managing public sentiments have compounded the problems further with unsubstantiated charges. Justice can not be served until the truth is known, but the public and media seem to have made up their minds. “The Author conducts a thorough investigation of Known facts to date. The article was published on 1st September 2009.
There are pockets of large Muslim population areas in different parts of India and also in other countries of the world. it is time the world community takes this point into consideration before the politicians use words like” Self Determination” in a casual manner .The Indian citizens were not given the right of self-determination during partition of the country in 1947.Will the British Politicians accept this principle in Bradford or in Luton. Surely, no politician in a right frame of mind will ever recommend a right of self-determination in every part of the world; the whole world will be thrown into chaos and turmoil. The religious fundamentalism is a danger to all the secular democracies of the world.
Krishna Bhan (Ms)
President of Indo European Kashmiri Forum (IEKF) & Director of Hindu Council UK (HCUK)
Tel: 07886439506
Email: bhank17@live.co.uk