September 4, 2014 Conference

Earlier on September 4, 2014, Ms Krishna Bhan, President of the Indo-European Kashmir Forum (IEKF) organized a conference in association with the Hindu Council UK on the “Plight of Kashmiri Pandits / Hindus” in the House of Commons. The meeting was jointly chaired by Conservative MP-Marcus Jones and Labour MP-Virendra Sharma. The speakers at the conference spoke passionately on many different perspectives ranging from history of the conflict, analogies with recent events, geopolitical aspects, role of journalists and politicians and the relevance of conflict to the rest of the world. The mood in the packed Committee Room 10 was effusive, upbeat and one which demonstrated resolve and a call to action. Also in attendance were Bob Blackman MP and Richard Harrington MP who supported the issues raised.

The main purpose of the conference was to express the Hindu community’s grave concerns over the upcoming debate in the UK Parliament on September 11, 2014 at the House of Commons. The debate in question has been secured by Liberal Democrats MP David Ward-Member of Parliament for Bradford East, together with support from Andrew Stephenson MP (Conservative) and David Nuttall MP (Labour), on behalf of the Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement Europe. Surprisingly, this debate has been granted as a result of some MPs, MEPs and Lords from all the British Political Parties, together with members of the Kashmiri/Pakistan Community, who signed a petition asking the British Parliament to hold a special debate on the state of human rights for the Muslim community in Kashmir.

The assembly elections for 2014 are to be held later this year in Jammu and Kashmir. Through this democratic process, the people of Jammu and Kashmir will elect a Government of their choice.