At a time when the national capital Delhi has been shaken by unprecedented communal clashes for the past few days, a group of Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmir Muslims have come together to send a message of communal harmony and brotherhood from the valley.?
On Friday the two groups will hold a peace march in Srinagar. The rally, named 'Saath Do', will start from Batamaloo and go through various areas of downtown Srinagar before culminating at Kashmir Press Club Polo View.?
The rally organised by Bollywood singer Saim Bhat and chairman of Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, Satish Mahaldaris aimed at showing unity between two communities.?
"A joint rally will be held by Kashmiri Muslims and pandits to spread a message of peace and love. This is a message for those who want to create a wedge between two communities," Mahaldar said.?
The organisers said that this is for the first time in three decades a joint rally is being held by two communities. It also comes at a time when hate speeches and communal tension is on arise in various parts of the country.?
"This peace rally is to build bridges and promote peace in Kashmir. The rally will be held on bikes and cars and will go through various areas of Srinagar," Mahaldar said.?
He said they have distributed white flags, which symbolise peace, among people which will be hoisted atop their houses, shops and cars.Mahaldar also said that Kashmiri pandits should be brought back the Valley and live with their Muslim brethren.?
"We want good relationship among all communities. All communities have suffered for last three decades. The government gave land to West Pakistan refugees but Kashmiri pandits still await for their rehabilitation," he said.?
Last year Mahaldar had led a delegation of Pandits to the Valley and stated that 419 displaced families were ready to return to Kashmir. Return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley was a part of the 2008 Prime Minister Modi's financial package of Rs 1618 crore.?
Around 41,117 migrant families from Kashmir are registered in Jammu, and 21,000 others in Delhi and other states. Of the total migrant families living in Jammu, 37,128 are Hindus, 2,246 Muslims and 1,758 Sikhs.?
According to the Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS), the apex body of non-migrant pandits there are 808 Kashmiri pandit families comprising of 3,464 people residing in the Valley. non-migrant Kashmiri pandits are living in 292 locations and most of them are putting up in four districts of south.?