Kashmir Pandits: 3 British MPs table motion demanding Indian govt to deliver ‘justice’ for community members
Three British Parliamentarians recently moved an early-day motion demanding the Indian government to deliver “much-awaited justice” to the Kashmiri Pandit community.
They also urged the UK government to extend commitment to the victims of “this genocide.”
According to the UK Parliament website, the motion text reads: "That this House commemorates with deep sadness and disappointment the 34th anniversary of the co-ordinated attacks in January 1990 by cross-border Islamic terrorists and their supporters on the innocent population of Jammu and Kashmir; expresses its condolences to the families and friends of all those killed, raped, injured and displaced by force in this planned massacre; condemns the desecration of holy sites in Jammu and Kashmir; is concerned that Kashmiris who fled persecution have still not seen justice or recognition of the atrocities committed against them; deplores those sponsoring such cross-border terrorist attacks and demands that such attacks cease immediately; condemns the continued targeted killings of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir; further notes that the international principle of responsibility to protect obliges individual States and the international community to take effective measures to prevent the commission of genocide and crimes against humanity as suffered by Kashmiri Hindus; highlights that properties belonging to minority Hindu community continue to be occupied; urges the Government of India to fulfil its long-standing international commitment to recognise and acknowledge the worst form of genocide of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir and enact the proposed Panun Kashmir Genocide Crime Punishment and Atrocities Prevention Bill in the Indian Parliament, thereby delivering much-awaited justice to the Kashmiri Pandit community; and further urges the UK Government to extend the UK’s longstanding commitment to protect and demand justice for the victims of this genocide."
The motion was passed ahead of January 19 which is observed as ‘Exodus Day’ by the Kashmiri Pandits.
The day is observed to mark the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community members from the Kashmir Valley in 1990 amid threats and killings by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.