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'I told Musharraf that Pandits started the Kashmiri freedom movement'

Bhushan Bazaz was the only Kashmiri Pandit to be invited to the Pakistan High Commissioner's 'High Tea' welcoming Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf. The following is a first person account as told to Onkar Singh.

I reached Pakistan House around 5.15 in the evening. There were more than three hundred guests.

The place was divided into two parts. One was for the male invitees, and the other for female invitees.

Amongst the politicians who were present at the tea party were former prime minister V P Singh, former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet.

I did not see Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Noted film director Mahesh Bhatt and actor Shah Rukh Khan were also present, but I couldn't spot Amitabh Bachchan anywhere.

General Pervez Musharraf arrived at 5.25 pm for the 'High Tea' hosted by High Commissioner of Pakistan Asharf Jehangir Qazi, and was immediately led away to meet with Hurriyat Conference leaders.

After the meeting, Musharraf was introduced to each individual guest. I had an opportunity of talking to him for about five minutes.

I told the General that the struggle for freedom in Kashmir is not confined to the Muslims of the region. Kashmiri Pandits, I pointed out, were equally a part of the struggle, and I also pointed out that it was the Kashmiri Pandits who started the struggle for freedom in 1931. I presented him with a copy of the book 'The 'History of Struggle for Freedom of Kashmir', written by my father Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz.

I told the Pakistan President that militants had been targetting Kashmiri Pandits during the early stages of the movement, with the result that there were hardly any Pandits left in the Valley.

There were some anxious moments when it began raining, and everyone ran for cover. But the shamiana (canopy) was waterproof and there was no leakage.

Most of the guests wanted to be photographed with the Pakistan President. When it came to Mulayam Singh Yadav's turn, he was seen frantically looking for his wife, so that she too could be part of the photograph.

Snacks such as fish cutlets and finger chips, and beverages including tea and coffee, were served to the guests.

President General Musharraf left for Rashtrapathi Bhavan around 6.15 pm.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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