The Kashmiri Pandit community in Australia held a rally on Sunday to support the Indian government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmiri Pandits were joined by others of the Indian-Australian community. The rally was held from Victorian state parliament to Federation Square in Melbourne. People carried the Indian flag and banners that read 'J&K is our motherland. India is our nation' and sang various patriotic songs during the rally.

Read: Normalcy In Kashmir: Ground Reports On The Amicable Situation

'Imagine Leaving your Whole Life behind you'

The Kashmiri Pandits shared their stories of how they were forced out of their ancestral homeland back in 1989-1990 due to militancy. "Back in 1990, one day my father-in-law came home and told us we have to leave within 15 minutes. Imagine leaving your whole life behind you and pack your belongings in a couple of suitcases within 15 minutes, never to return home. That was just the beginning of a long struggle ahead," a Kashmiri Pandit said.

Read: Imran Khan Laments Isolation On Kashmir, Blames “Muslim States”

Protests Against Washington Post

On September 7, Kashmiri Pandits had staged a protest in front of The Washington Post office for the one-sided coverage of the situations in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 was revoked. The group of Kashmiri Pandits alleged that the newspaper was reporting biased views with only one side of the story. They also said that Washington Post hadn't reported the heinous genocide committed against the Pandits. The group from various parts of the United States also raised slogans in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the 'bold and historic step'.

Read: Kashmiri Pandits: Protests Against Washington Post For Unfair Coverage

Kashmiri Pandits Back Modi

The Convener of Panun Kashmir, Agnishekhar, an organisation advocating the cause of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, released a memorandum in support of the abrogation of provisions of Article 370. The memorandum claimed that over 700 eminent Kashmiri Pandits endorsed the scrapping of Article 370. It was signed by over 700 top Kashmiri Pandits, which also include Padma Shri awardees, vice-chancellors, academicians and doctors, across the world.

(With ANI inputs)

Read: Kashmiri Pandits Issue Big Statement Backing Modi On J&K, Article 370