Why 'jihadi' news, Kashmiri Pandits ask Washington Post

Upset by its communally coloured reports alleging human rights violation and throttling of media freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, despite the Indian government winning over the locals, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits protested outside the office The Washington Post.

The peaceful gathering in the US capital on Saturday was to send out a strong message to the daily as well as many other Western media houses for their "one-sided" reportage on Kashmir. It was organised by the demonstration was organised by the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora.

"Why Choose Jihadi news?," asked the protesters as they challenged the Washington Post to "Hear our Voices. Tell our Stories."

Dr Mohan Sapru, chief coordinator of the rally, said, "The Washington Post's biased reporting ignores the inconvenient truth that Article 370 and Article 35A imposed years after Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India have denied democratic rights to minorities, women and weaker sections of the society while throttling Kashmir's economy."

Sapru said the special status allowed the Valley to become a breeding ground for rampant corruption, separatism and Islamic terrorism that resulted in the worst form of "human rights violation, including rape, murder and eventual ethnic cleansing of the native Kashmiri Pandits".

He said the Centre's decision will address the menace of cross-border Islamic terrorism, facilitate the empowerment of women and lead to the restoration of justice to minorities and provide economic opportunities for all.

"We fully support and endorse the revocation of these repressive Articles."

Dr Vijay Sazawal, the international coordinator of Indo American Kashmir Forum, said, "Western journalists, including the Post, should be ashamed of their reporting on Kashmir. The Post by stating the changes introduced by the Indian Parliament on the reorganisation of J&K as a victory of Hinduism over Islam is disgraceful, disgusting, and disingenuous."

Meanwhile, a group of Pakistanis gathering in the vicinity. They also prevented Indian journalists trying to take their photos, prompting the police to intervene.