British MP Proposes Motion to Commemorate 35th Anniversary of Kashmiri Pandits' Genocide
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Synopsis
On January 19, a British MP introduced a motion in Parliament to mark the 35th anniversary of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandit Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The motion highlights the suffering of the community and seeks recognition of the atrocities faced by them.
Key Takeaways
- 35th anniversary of Kashmiri Pandit Exodus marked.
- Bob Blackman emphasizes resilience of the community.
- EDM introduced to highlight the genocide.
- Condemnation of terrorist activities against Hindus.
- Call for justice and recognition of atrocities.
London, Jan 19 (NationPress) A British Member of Parliament (MP) has introduced a parliamentary motion to honor the 35th anniversary of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandit Hindus from Jammu and Kashmir in India.
Conservative MP Bob Blackman shared on his social media platform X: "January 19 marks the tragic day of the Kashmiri Pandit Exodus, when thousands of us were forced to flee our homeland. One must never forget the pain and loss of our community. The achievements of Kashmiri Pandits across all walks of life despite the immense adversities is a demonstration of our tremendous resilience."
On Thursday, Blackman presented the Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons regarding this event that dates back to January 1990.
An EDM is a tool utilized by British MPs to highlight specific issues to Parliament.
"That this House commemorates with deep sadness and disappointment the 35th anniversary of the coordinated attacks in January 1990 by cross-border Islamic terrorists and their supporters on the minority Hindu population of Kashmir valley," stated the EDM.
The motion proceeds to express condolences to British Hindu citizens whose friends and family were killed, raped, injured, and displaced during this planned massacre; it condemns the desecration of holy sites in Jammu and Kashmir and vows to safeguard the rights of Hindus in the UK, including the right to seek justice.
"(The House) is concerned that the Kashmiri Hindu minority that fled persecution have still not seen justice or acknowledgment of the atrocities committed against them over 35 years; it deplores those sponsoring such cross-border terrorist attacks," the motion further elaborated.
It emphasizes that the House is "concerned that organizations supporting terror are thriving in the UK; it 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; it urges the Government of India to fulfill its long-standing international commitment to recognize and acknowledge the genocide of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir."
Additionally, it points out that "properties belonging to the minority Hindu community in Kashmir continue to be occupied; it calls on the Government of India to enact the proposed Panun Kashmir Genocide Crime Punishment and Atrocities Prevention Bill in the Indian Parliament, and further urges the UK government to commemorate January 19 as Kashmiri Pandit Exodus Day."
The EDM currently has no supporting signatures, with the first six MPs who backed the motion acting as its sponsors.
