For pandit festival, resistance leadership calls off strike

Srinagar : In occupied Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits have thanked the joint resistance leadership for calling off strike on February 24 in view of the Pandit festival Shivratri popularly called Herath in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pandits living in occupied Kashmir while welcoming the decision of joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik asserted that calling off the strike on Herath would further strengthen the bond between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims.

As per a statement issued by the joint resistance leadership, in view of the Shivratri festival celebrations in the occupied territory, strike call issued for February 24 (Friday) has been called off. “We have an exemplary tradition of mutual brotherhood and for ages we are living in harmony. While issuing resistance programme (last week), we did not notice the upcoming festival. Later, members from Pandit community drew our attention towards the issue and after consultations, resistance leadership called off the proposed strike for Friday,” the statement said.

Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) headed by Sanjay Tickoo said that Herath is “king of festivals” for them. He said that it was good that the joint resistance leadership called off the strike to be observed on February 24. He said on the second day of Herath, which is popularly known as “Salaam”, Muslims visit the Pandits and greet them. “This is a sign of brotherhood and a communal harmony,” he added.

Well known Kashmiri Pandit, Dr Amit Wanchoo, who heads Space Communications, thanked the joint resistance leadership for calling off the strike on Shivratri festival. “By calling off the strike, the trust between the members of Pandit and Muslims communities has been further cemented. This will send a message across the world that there is no scope for communalism in Kashmir,” he added.

Bhushan Lal, another Pnadit, from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, said that they have been celebrating Herath which involves Muslim community members. “Many Muslim members visit our homes on the next day and greet us,” he added.