Conservative MP Bob Blackman has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to mark the 35th anniversary of the coordinated attacks on the minority Hindu population of Kashmir valley. The motion condemns the atrocities committed against the Kashmiri Pandit community and calls on the UK and Indian governments to recognize and acknowledge the genocide. It also urges the UK government to commemorate January 19 as Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Day. The motion has no supporting signatures as of now, making the first six MPs supporting the motion its sponsors.
Kashmiri Pandit Exodus: A History of Trauma and Diaspora
The Kashmiri Pandit exodus refers to the displacement of the Kashmiri Pandit community from their ancestral homeland in the Kashmir Valley, following a series of coordinated attacks and persecution by Islamic militants in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Background
Kashmiri Pandits, a Hindu minority in a predominantly Muslim Kashmir, have a rich history and cultural heritage in the region. However, tensions between the two communities escalated in the 1980s with the rise of separatist and militant movements seeking the independence of Kashmir from India.
In 1989, armed militants launched an offensive against Indian forces in Kashmir, triggering a violent campaign of intimidation and violence against Kashmiri Pandits. They were targeted for their religious identity, their role in supporting Indian rule, and their economic success.
Exodus and Persecution
In January 1990, a coordinated attack on the Pandit community forced thousands to flee their homes and seek refuge in safer areas. Over 200,000 Pandits were displaced within a few months, becoming one of the largest refugee populations in South Asia.
The militants engaged in systematic persecution, including killings, kidnappings, and extortion. Pandit homes and temples were vandalized and torched. The community's economic base was destroyed, and they were subjected to psychological and social abuse.
Aftermath
The exodus had a devastating impact on the Kashmiri Pandit community. Many lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. The trauma of displacement and persecution continues to haunt them to this day.
While some Pandits have returned to Kashmir, the vast majority remain displaced in refugee camps in Jammu and other parts of India. They have struggled to rebuild their lives and regain their cultural identity.
International Recognition
The Kashmiri Pandit exodus has been widely condemned as an act of ethnic cleansing. In 2022, the United States Congress passed a resolution recognizing the exodus as genocide. Similar resolutions have been passed in the United Kingdom and other countries.
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