While the fate of Kashmiri Hindus remains uncertain, other pockets within the country such as West Bengal and Assam are on the path to becoming another Kashmir, participants at the World Hindu Congress expressed.

New Delhi: No political party in India, including the BJP, is sensitive enough to the genocide of Hindus in Kashmir and their expulsion from the state. While the fate of Kashmiri Hindus remains uncertain, other pockets within the country such as West Bengal and Assam are on the path to becoming another Kashmir. This was the view social groups and activists working in Kashmir expressed at the World Hindu Congress.

“Despite more than 3.5 lakh of Hindus being pushed out of the Kashmir valley over the years, the political class across the spectrum in the country, including the BJP, still consider it a small issue and is less serious about it,” said Dr Ajay Chrungoo, chairman of Panun Kashmir, an organisation and movement of displaced Kashmiri Hindus.

He said Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits) have been in exile since early 1990 after Islamic religious fundamentalists in the Kashmir valley took to armed subversion and terrorism and drove them out of their centuries old habitat. “It’s an ideological problem, which is due to expansionist process of Muslims, who’re in majority and couldn’t accommodate the minority Hindus in Kashmir,” said Chrungoo.

He added, “The NDA government first has to accept the attrition of Hindus due to genocide in Kashmir and the North-East; and thereafter proper policy needs to drafted for their protection, who are a minority in Kashmir, but never got any benefit of their status.”

While speaking on the persecution of Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, former director general of police, KPS Gill sarcastically remarked, “Our foreign policy is very effective within the country, but not outside.

Taking a dig at politicians, he said, “Some states and politicians prefer to side with terrorists, and illegal immigrants from across the border get to settle on Indian soil. Like a political leader had addressed Osama bin Laden as Osamaji.” Though Gill didn’t name the politician, his indication was clear – it was Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who had later termed the incident as a ‘media creation’.

During discussion, the speakers and participants from different countries presented a gory picture of the plight of Hindus due to ‘onslaught of Muslim expansionism’, not only in Kashmir, but also in Bengal, Assam, Kerala and outside India. It has resulted shifting of Assamese and people from N-E to Delhi in large numbers.

“The danger within India is much more than the danger from outside India. Since 1964 no serious attempt was made by the government to detect and deport illegal immigrants and infiltrators. From Baluchistan to Bangladesh, borders are shrinking and illegal immigrants from across the border have struck deep roots in J&K, Assam and Bengal. They have managed to get the status of Indian citizens, and now forcing original inhabitants who are Hindus, out of those places. The persecution of Bengalis that started at Noakhali immediately during Independence, is still continuing,” Gill observed.

“If the leaders in Delhi couldn’t take any action on the expulsion of Hindus from Kashmir valley, some of whom settled in Delhi, what will the leaders do for West Bengal, Assam and North East?” questioned Tapan Ghosh of Hindu Samhati.

Citing examples of persecution of Hindus by Muslims in Kerala, Shilpa Nair, a representative from UAE said, “If no action is taken by the government, days are not far when Kerala would be an Islamic state, and Hindus would either get killed or thrown out. Malappuram district is known as a Muslim district and it’s mini-Pakistan of sorts. The situation is grave.”

While expressing their views, the audience said the BJP is yet to be vocal on persecution of Hindus within the country and outside. “It seems it’s not yet a part of the BJP’s policy.”

The policy of secularism that the Indian government has been following for decades, was vehemently criticised. “Secularism is a process of political compromise and present government is bungling on Kashmir issue. But with Narendra Modi as the new PM, we expect some change, but when? that is the main concern,” a participant remarked.

“Why do we shy from calling ourselves Hindus? Instead we say Indians are suffering. Do Muslims say Pakistanis are suffering or Christians say Americans are suffering? This is the effect of pseudo-secularism,” remarked Dr OS Ratnu, a Rajasthan-based surgeon.

“We need leadership to translate into action. We must react on a war-footing, but it shouldn't be violence for violence,” political economist Dr Gautam Sen of London School of Economics told Firstpost.

In his closing remarks, Gill emphasized on a sustained effort through policy for the protection of Hindus and Sikhs in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.