Panun Kashmir expresses concern over LG's remarks at Rishiwar interfaith conference
07/06/2026
Jammu, June 07 (KIP)- A dual-mode meeting of the Executive Council of Panun Kashmir, attended physically in Jammu and virtually by members from different locations, was held today under the leadership of Dr. Agnishekhar, Convenor, and Shri Tito Ganju, Chairman, Panun Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Shri Kuldeep Raina, General Secretary; Shri Behari Lal Kaul, Organising Secretary; Shri Kamal Hak, Vice Chairman; Shri Sanjay Raina, Vice Chairman; Shri Ravinder Gurtoo, Vice Chairman; Shri Bebooji Zutshi, Jammu Coordinator; Shri Pyare Lal Kaul Budgami, Chief Advisor; Shri Nitin Dhar, President, Panun Kashmir Yuva, and other members of the Executive Council.
The Executive Council deliberated at length on the remarks made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during the recently held Rishiwar Interfaith Conference in Srinagar. Members expressed concern over the statement that the "common people of Kashmir" were not responsible for what happened to the Kashmiri Pandits and over the public reference to a Kashmiri Pandit while emphasizing that the Constitution is above Aastha.
The Council observed that while interfaith dialogue and communal harmony are welcome objectives, any discussion relating to the genocide, exodus and prolonged exile of Kashmiri Pandits must be approached with historical sensitivity and a deep regard for the experiences of the victims.
Members noted that the tragedy of the Kashmiri Pandits remains one of the most significant unresolved questions of post-Independence India and that issues relating to accountability, justice, recognition and rehabilitation continue to remain inadequately addressed.
The Executive Council expressed surprise that conclusions regarding societal responsibility were being articulated even though a comprehensive accounting of the events surrounding the genocide and exodus has never been undertaken by the State. The Council reiterated that while Panun Kashmir does not subscribe to the doctrine of collective guilt, it equally rejects attempts at premature exoneration that bypass the lived experiences and testimonies of the victims.
The Council further observed that Kashmiri Pandits, despite suffering genocide, forced displacement and more than three decades of exile, have consistently pursued their struggle through constitutional and democratic means. Members felt that publicly singling out a Kashmiri Pandit for a discourse on the relationship between dharma and the Constitution created an unfortunate symbolism that many in the community found insensitive and hurtful.
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Agnishekhar stated that the genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus cannot be reduced to simplistic narratives and that any meaningful reconciliation must be founded upon historical truth, justice and acknowledgment of the suffering endured by the community.
Chairman Shri Tito Ganju observed that victims of genocide deserve empathy rather than sermons and that historical questions cannot be settled through official pronouncements. He emphasized that before judgments are passed on the experiences of Kashmiri Pandits, the voices of the victims themselves must be heard with honesty, sensitivity and respect.
The Executive Council reaffirmed Panun Kashmir's commitment to the struggle for genocide recognition, justice, and the establishment of a separate Homeland for Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir in accordance with the Margdarshan Resolution of Panun Kashmir.
The meeting concluded with a resolve to intensify efforts for historical acknowledgment, political empowerment and the realization of the community's long-standing national aspirations.