WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kashmiri Hindu advocacy groups in the United States marked January 19 as Exodus Day by renewing calls for justice, restitution, and secure rehabilitation of the displaced community, describing the date as a reminder of the forced exodus from the Kashmir Valley more than three decades ago.
In a joint statement, the Kashmir Hindu Foundation and Panun Kashmir said January 19 symbolizes what they described as the systematic displacement of Kashmiri Hindus, calling it a “deliberate and sustained process of ethnic cleansing” that uprooted an indigenous community from its homeland.
The groups said the exodus resulted not only in the loss of homes and livelihoods, but also in the erosion of cultural roots and civilisational identity. They rejected what they described as symbolic gestures, selective amnesia, and tourism-driven narratives as insufficient responses to the community’s long-standing grievances.
Sunanda Vashisht, writer, political commentator, and Chairperson of the Jonaraja Institute of Genocide and Atrocities Studies, said the events surrounding the exodus should not be viewed as a closed chapter of history.
“Genocide is not an event; it is a process aimed at wiping out or severely weakening particular identity-based groups. These groups are perceived as a threat to the offenders’ identity or dominance,” Vashisht said.
Panun Kashmir Convener Dr. Agnishekhar said the return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus could only be achieved through adoption of the Margdarshan Resolution by the Government of India, arguing that alternative approaches fail to address the political, security, and civilisational dimensions of the issue.
Speaking on behalf of the Panun Kashmir Youth Wing, Nitin Dhar rejected the narrative of “Kashmiriyat,” saying Kashmir historically followed “Kashmir Deshachar,” a distinct civilisational and cultural ethos that he said was later destroyed.
He added that distorted or falsified narratives could not replace historical truth.
Kashmir Hindu Foundation founder Deepak Ganju called for all movable and immovable properties sold by displaced Kashmiri Pandits after 1989 to be officially declared “distress sales.”
He said such transactions should be declared null and void, with ownership restored to rightful holders based on land records. KHF President Anit Monga also called for a blanket ban on the acquisition or encroachment of abandoned properties.
The groups said justice, restitution, and secure rehabilitation are both constitutional and moral imperatives. They urged India, civil society, and the international community to formally acknowledge what they described as genocide and to take concrete steps to ensure the dignified return of Kashmiri Hindus to the Valley. (Source: IANS)
