Latest news with #KashmiriPandits
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why Mahadev Hill of Kashmir, a living legend, is sacred to Hindus
The mastermind of Pahalgam attack was among three terrorists linked to the April 22 massacre who were killed in an encounter on Monday near one of Kashmir's holiest summits — the Mahadev Peak. The terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them on the basis of their religion. Not just the place, the timing of Operation Mahadev is coincidental too. It comes just weeks before Sawan Purnimashi, the full moon in the holy month, when, as historians note, Kashmiri Pandits used to undertake their annual pilgrimage to the sacred peak in reverence to Lord Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Suleiman Shah, alias Musa Fauji, the mastermind and executor of the attack was among the three Pahalgam attackers killed by security forces in an Peak is a sacred site that finds mentions in ancient scriptures and Kashmiri folklore. "Hindus consider it a sacred site. At the top lies an ancient glacier which remains frozen for 12 months. Some people get ice from it and vend it in the streets of the city. On Sawan Purnimashi, the Pundits make a pilgrimage to this site," according to Kashmiri historian Peer Hassan MAHADEV TO NEUTRALISE PAHALGAM ATTACKERSTitled 'Operation Mahadev', the joint anti-terror drive was launched by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the CRPF in Srinagar's Lidwas area, a region right under the shadow of Mount Mahadev or the Mahadev sources confirmed that the terrorists were foreign nationals affiliated with the Pakistan-based group, The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to officials, the gunfight began after intelligence inputs pointed to the movement of armed terrorists in the Lidwas area.A cordon was quickly set up, and the area combed. A brief, but intense exchange of fire ensued, following which all three suspects were gunned location and timing of this encounter have not gone unnoticed, for the site of the killing of the terrorists is not just a mountaintop, but a living embodiment of divine memory for the Kashmiri Hindu PEAK IS CALLED 'THE PEAK OF SRINAGAR'Mahadev Peak, rising over 13,000 feet (3,962 metres) above sea level, is no ordinary mountain in the eyes of the devout Pandit community of the Kashmir Valley, who used go on annual pilgrimage treks to the Mahadev Peak, part of the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar District, stands as a symbol of spiritual significance in Kashmir. The holy peak, visible across most parts of Srinagar city, has earned the moniker "the peak of Srinagar".The Mahadev Peak, the highest in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is locally known as 'Mahadeva Gali' and is revered by Kashmiri Pandits as the abode of Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and meditation in Hindu per Kashmiri folklore, this is the very path that Lord Shiva took to reach Amarnath Cave, where he narrated the Amar Katha (the tale of immortality) to Goddess doing so, Shiva is believed to have shed all attachments, including his serpents, the crescent moon, his damru (drum), and even Nandi the bull, on the way. The Mahadev Peak is considered one such stop in Shiva's HILLS: FROM NILMATA PURANA TO RAJATARANGINIMount Mahadev attracted hundreds of Pandits every year during the Sawan Purnima pilgrimage. However, the mass pilgrimage to the holy hills stopped as terrorism and militancy hit the Mahadev Peak is a symbol of Kashmiri culture, the memory of which cannot be erased by terrorism or peak stands as a living legend for the Kashmiri Pandit trek to the Mahadev peak begins from Faqir Gujri, passing through places still bearing their ancient names — Dwara (Dara), Rudrawas (Lidvas), according to a report in the Jammu-based Daily scriptures from the Nilamata Purana to Kalhana's Rajatarangini from the 12th century, speak of the Mahadevagiri as a pilgrimage and a holy Nilamata Purana, also known as the Kasmira Mahatmya, states: "One is honoured in the world of Rudra by seeing the mountain Mahadeva after having a plunge into the Mahuri in front of Tripuresa."The Nilamata Purana, which documented Kashmir between the 4th and 8th centuries, affirms the peak's location and divine stature, noting: "Mahadevagiri is the westernmost peak of the highest ridge of the mass of mountains lying between the Sind valley and the eastern range of mountains".Kalhana's Rajatarangini, written in the 12th century, describes the grandeur of the region's geography and locates Mahadev Peak with reverence, noting, "The whole mountain-ridge which stretches to the south of Triphar and along the Dal, bore in ancient times the name of Sridvara. On the opposite side of the valley rises the bold peak of Mahadeva to a height of over 13,000 feet. The extremity of this ridge in the west forms the amphitheatre of bold hills which encircle Dal Lake and Srinagar to the north".While historical sources affirm the religious significance of Mahadev Hill, the tradition has largely been forgotten by the people, suggest reports. Today, it has been reduced to an adventure or tourist destination for locals and visitors alike, with little awareness of its deep historical, spiritual, and religious importance, according to the report in the Daily is near this Mahadev Hill, with immense cultural and religious significance, that the three alleged attackers of Pahalgam, who segregated civilians on the basis of faith and killed them, were neutralised.- Ends
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
AJK govt 'failed to shoulder' Kashmir cause: Gilani
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has failed to shoulder the "higher burden of responsibilities" regarding the Kashmir dispute and the ongoing freedom movement in the valley. These views were expressed by Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights, in a special conversation with this correspondent here on Sunday. He noted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were the primary party in the plebiscite, with Pakistan as the second party. He added that the 1974 Act, essentially amounted to the annexation of AJK to Pakistan. Unfortunately, the AJK government has "miserably failed" to extend this annexation to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he added. Dr Gilani argued that if the AJK government had succeeded in uniting people from all segments in IIOJK, particularly Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, around the demand for the right to self-determination, it would have facilitated the annexation of the entire Jammu and Kashmir region to Pakistan through a vote. This, in turn, would have expanded Pakistan's influence among Kashmiris and been reflected in the plebiscite with a vote in Pakistan's favour. However, he maintained that the AJK government not only failed to fulfil its responsibilities regarding the freedom of IIOJK, but also fell short in expanding the scope of the Kashmiris' affiliation with Pakistan.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
KPs urge political parties to support bill on return of Kashmiri Hindus
Kashmiri Pandits welcomed the recommendation made by President Droupadi Murmu to a bill on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley and urged political parties to vote for and support the bill concerning the community's rehabilitation. President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. (HT File) President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Congress member Vivek Tankha on February 2, 2024, but required the President's recommendation as it involves financial implications. The bill will be taken up for voting in the Rajya Sabha in the current session. 'We welcome the recommendation of the President to the private member's bill on the return and rehabilitation of KPs in the Valley. It has rekindled hope among the community on the issue,' former Jammu Computer Dealers Association President Arvind Kumar said here. He further urged all political parties to come forward to support, vote for, and pass the bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Vivek Tankha. Similarly, businessman P L Koul also thanked the President. 'For the first time in Parliament, a private member's bill titled Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, has been recommended by the President for consideration in the House, subject to time constraints,' Tankha said in a post on X. Panun Kashmir rejects bill, calls it an attempt to subvert homeland demand Meanwhile, Panun Kashmir, an organisation advocating the cause of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, rejected the bill, saying it subverts the issues of 'genocide' and the demand for a homeland for the community in Kashmir. 'We strongly reject the Kashmiri Pandits bill currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. The bill is an attempt to derail the discourse on genocide recognition and to deflect attention from the foundational demands of the displaced community of carving out a homeland for them in the Valley,' a joint statement issued by the organisation said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Kashmiri Pandits urge parties to back bill on return and rehabilitation
Kashmiri Pandits welcomed the recommendation made by President Droupadi Murmu to a bill on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley and urged political parties to vote for and support the bill concerning the community's rehabilitation. President Droupadi Murmu has recommended a private member's bill calling for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits for consideration in the Rajya Sabha. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Congress member Vivek Tankha on February 2, 2024, but required the President's recommendation as it involves financial implications. The bill will be taken up for voting in the Rajya Sabha in the current session. Kashmiri Pandits have welcomed the President's recommendation and expressed their happiness over the move. "We welcome the recommendation of the President to the private member's bill on the return and rehabilitation of KPs in the Valley. It has rekindled hope among the community on the issue," former Jammu Computer Dealers Association President Arvind Kumar said here. He further urged all political parties to come forward to support, vote for, and pass the bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Vivek Tankha. Similarly, businessman P L Koul also thanked the President and Tankha for their role in facilitating the bill, now to be voted on by the Rajya Sabha. "We urge all political parties, including Congress and BJP, to vote for and support it. With folded hands, please honour our request for passing the bill," he said. "For the first time in Parliament, a private member's bill titled Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022, has been recommended by the President for consideration in the House, subject to time constraints," Tankha said in a post on X. Apni Party youth leader and community activist Muktesh Yogi also expressed his gratitude to the President and the Congress MP for facilitating the bill for voting in the Rajya Sabha. "It is our wish to see this bill through. So we urge all MPs in the Rajya Sabha to vote for, support, and pass the bill," he said. Echoing similar sentiments, the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) said, "This is a moment of great moral and constitutional significance. A Government Bill, backed by the Executive and introduced by a Union Minister, would ensure the full weight and urgency of national legislative intent, thereby enabling structured and enforceable mechanisms for justice, restitution, and return with dignity.
The Print
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Congress MP's private member's bill on rehabilitation of Kashmir Pandits cleared for consideration by RS
Two days ago, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to Tankha that the President has recommended the consideration of the bill, clearing the decks for a discussion on it, before it is passed. To be sure, only 14 private members' bills have been passed and enacted into law so far, the last one being in 1970. Tankha, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, said the bill, introduced in the Upper House in February 2024, needed a recommendation from the President of India—under Article 117(3) of the Constitution—to be taken up for consideration as it carries financial implications. New Delhi: Congress MP Vivek Tankha's private member's bill, which among other things seeks the restoration of temples connected with Kashmiri Pandits who were driven out of the Valley in 1990, can now be taken up for consideration in the Rajya Sabha with it having cleared a Constitutional requirement. 'For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled 'Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022' has been recommended by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. 'If discussed and approved, this can be a turning point in the fight for justice for Kashmiri Pandits. It's a big achievement as very few bills with financial implications get recommended by the Hon'ble President under clause (3) of Article 117 of the Constitution,' Tankha wrote on X Wednesday, attaching a screenshot of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat communique. The Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Act, 2022 also envisages grant of minority status to Kashmiri Pandits and declaration of members of the community as victims of genocide. When contacted, Tankha told ThePrint that he had first introduced the Bill in 2022. 'With my term ending in 2022, the Bill also lapsed. I introduced a fresh Bill again in my second term,' he said. Upon its enactment into a law, the Bill also proposes the release of a white paper 'documenting all events in the Kashmir valley pertaining to the atrocities and plight of the Kashmiri Pandits starting from the year 1988 till the enactment of this Act.' For the first time in Parliament, a private member bill titled "Kashmiri Pandits (Recourse, Restitution, Rehabilitation and Resettlement) Bill, 2022" has been recommeded by the Hon'ble President for consideration in the house, subject to time constraint. .1/2 — Vivek Tankha (@VTankha) July 23, 2025 The bill has a separate section dealing with the restoration of temples and other heritage sites in the Valley. It says a committee comprising archaeologists, historians among others shall be authorised to appoint a Special Officer who will be armed with the power to seek documents from the government for 'conducting the survey of the religious sites' and 'shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1973.' Under clause 3 of Article 11 of the Constitution, a proposed legislation that entails 'expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India shall not be passed by either House of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that House the consideration of the Bill.' 'In case the President withholds recommendation for introduction, the Bill cannot be introduced and if the recommendation is withheld under article 117(3) for consideration, the House cannot consider the Bill,' state the rules. A former Parliament official said that just because the bill now meets the Article 117(3) requirement does not guarantee that it will be taken up for discussion anytime soon as there is a draw of lots for that purpose. According to Parliament records, of over 2,000 private member's bills introduced since 1952, only 14 have become laws. These 14 bills include the Muslim Wakf Bill, 1952; The Hindu Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 1956; The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill 1970. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits are reviving old hometown temples. 'It's how we will return'
