www.hafsite.org
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, August 20, 2008 (Press release): Unrest and violence has gripped the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir once again over a Hindu shrine, raising grave concern among Hindu Americans. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) weighed in today as the Government of India failed to gain control of the situation and events continued to escalate. The recent spiral of violence arises from a toxic mixture of a proxy war launched by Pakistan, jihadi terrorists and an unusual clause in the Indian Constitution that grants “special” status to the region, the Foundation argued today.
“Kashmir, a cradle of Kashmiri Shaivism, one of the most important threads of Hindu civilization, is today the tragic playground of separatist Islamist leaders and craven politicians,” said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President and co-founder of HAF. “Indian citizens are being denied ownership of land in their own nation, and the calls to divide Indian territory could have repercussions far beyond Jammu and Kashmir.”
“The allegations made by Kashmiri separatists that the transfer of land is an attempt to create Hindu settlements in Kashmir and change the religious demography are as ironic as they are outrageous,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., coordinator of the Foundation’s annual human rights report. “The religious demography in the state was already altered in 1989 when more than 350,000 Kashmiri Hindus, the original inhabitants of the Kashmir Valley, were ethnically cleansed from their ancestral homeland–these Hindus and all Indians must have the right to live and work wherever they wish in their country, and the land must be returned to the shrine administrators.”
Jammu and Kashmir became a part of India in 1947 when the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession to India. In a bid to appease the Muslim majority of the state as they joined a secular India, the Government of India passed Article 370 that allowed the state’s residents to live under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to other Indians.
“India’s true potential as a pluralistic democracy can only be realized when all its people live under uniform laws, and no state enjoys special privileges that exclude others,” added Kalra. “We call on the government in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately reinstate the land transfer order to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, and take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of the Hindu minority in the State.”
Project Will Connect Temples with Tirupati
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082159930500.htm
HYDERABAD, INDIA, August 20, 2008: Hyderabad is all set to have an exclusive tourism project, aimed at unleashing a new tourism potential by connecting 23 ancient temples in Nellore and Chittoor districts with the famed temple of Tirupati within the same touristic infrastructure. The Department of Tourism will take up the project.
Transport, infrastructure and other facilities, so vital for tourism, will be developed in these pilgrim centres, informed Kanthi Singh, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture on Wednesday. Ms. Singh said the much delayed Southern Splendour project, a tourist circuit train service connecting the South Indian states, has reached its final stage. While Karnataka withdrew from the project in favour of its own tourist express service, Orissa and Pondicherry have agreed to join as new partners in investing in faith-based tourism.