Kashmiri Pandits stage protest march in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: Two Kashmiri Pandit organisations today held a protest march here and threatened to launch fast-unto-death stir if their demands, including redrafting and passing of Kashmir Temples and Shrines Bill in the Legislative Assembly, are not met.

Members of All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) and Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) jointly staged a protest march in support of their demands.

"If the government does not act on its promises made to us and start a final and fruitful dialogue on six-point charter of demands, we will be forced to go for fast-unto-death," APMCC and KPSS said in a joint statement after the protest.

The charter of demands include re-drafting and passing of the pending Kashmir Temples and Shrines Bill in the state assembly and probe into the alleged temple and shrines land encroachment in Kashmir.

They also demanded the government to initiate a dialogue with Pakistan for facilitating visit to Shardha Peeth Temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, establishment of Shardha Peeth University in the state, one-time compensation for over-aged Kashmiri Hindu youths living outside the Valley and special employment package for Hindus living in the Valley.

The protestors demanded minority status for the community and removal of nomenclature like migrants or non-migrants from official communication.