Muslim neighbours perform last rites of man from Kashmir Pandit community in Pulwama
Pampore (Pulwama), Nov 15: Reviving the memories of the glorious traditions of communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir, Muslim neighbours in this town helped perform the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit who died last evening.
Ashok Kumar Wangoo died at his residence at Drangabal in Pampore town on Tuesday around 5.00 pm. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Instead of taking the mortal remains to Jammu, the Kashmir Pandit community decided to perform the last rites here. The members of the minority community expressed their gratitude to local Muslims for standing by their side through thick and thin.
"The deceased is Ashok Kumar Wangoo. He died yesterday around 5.00 pm. As soon as the news spread, people from the entire Drangabal mohalla and adjoining areas came over and helped with the formalities and arrangements for rituals of the departed soul. Men, women and children all helped us in it. We did not have to do much. This is not new for us as it has been there over a long time. This is Kashmiriyat. However, doing it in present times really means something. We are thankful to them," said Raju Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit neighbour of the deceased.
Mohammad Yousuf Malik, Wangoo's childhood classmate and a Muslim neighbour, said his area has always been known for Hindu-Sikh-Muslim unity.
"We have never had any problems here. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs have lived together amicably. We share each others' joys and sorrows. The Pandit community decided that they will not take Wangoo to Jammu for last rites and it will be done here only. So we all came together to help," Malik said.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
