Catholic
Union urges Chief Minister Ghulam Azad to ensure
relief for
Kashmiri converts to Christianity who are refugees
of violence and
terrorism in State
PRESS STATEMENT
Following is the text of the
letter from Dr John Dayal, National President,
All India Catholic Union TO THE Chief minister
of the State of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve
of the multi-group talks in New Delhi on the
situation in the state.
20 April 2007
Jenab Ghulam Nabi Azad
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Camp: New Delhi
Re: Plight of Catholic families
in Kashmir who converted from Islam, Pandit
communities and are now refugees with no support
from the State government
Dear Jenab Azad Saheb
Greetings
I write to bring to your attention
the terrible plight of a small group of citizens
of the State of Jammu and Kashmir whose suffering
for the past many years has been ignored by
local officials and political authorities as
well as by the State government.
These are six families of Catholics
who had converted from Pandit or Muslim families.
They have faced a triple crisis - persecution
from Hindus, persecution from Muslims, Persecution
from the State.
I understand that every Kashmiri
Pandit Private employee is entitled to the receipt
of cash relief now raised to Rs. 4000/- per
month. It even includes top ranking lawyers
and businessmen but it has been is denied to
the Christian refugees.
I most earnestly appeal to
you to please urgently look into matter and
ensure that these families get the relief and
resettlement support from the government given
to others who are deemed victims of the violent
developments in the valley over the years.
The following is the list of
victim families:
1. Mr. Predhuman K. Joseph
Dhar. (Pensioner) and Mrs. Vijayluxmi Joseph
Dhar
Address: 60-"The Lord's", Sector-1,
EWS Colony, Roop Nagar-Jammu (Tawi)
2. Mr. Rajiv Dhar,(Private Employee), Mrs. Sunita
Dhar and Mr. Yeshu Dhar
Address: House No. 5319/2 Top Floor, Sector
38-West, Chandigarah.
No Cash relief granted ever since 1990.
3. Mr. Anil Dhar (Private Employee), Mrs. Jyoti
Dhar, Baby Sheriya Dhar.
Address: 307-G, Ivory Towers, Mohalli-Chandigarah
No Cash relief granted ever since 1990.
4. Mr. Late Tahir Messih, Mrs. Tahir Messiah,
Bashir Messih, Rebecca Messih
Address: Majnoon Ka Teela, New Delhi
5. Mr. Anthony Kokhar, Mrs. Renu Anthony Kokhar,
Two daughters (Name not known)
Living in Jammu ..
6. Mr. Latif Nasari, with a family of eight
members.
Living in Jammu
I am sure you will give my
appeal all consideration.
With warm personal regards
Dr. John Dayal
National {resident, All India catholic Union
Delhi address:
505 Link Apartments, 18 IP Extn
New Delhi 110092
