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Updated September 19th, 2019 at 13:33 IST

UNGA: Delegation of Kashmiri Pandits to meet PM Modi in New York

Ahead of the UN General Assembly session, a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits from the Indian diaspora is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the USA

Reported by: Jay Pandya
UNGA
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An important meeting will take place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, where a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits from the Indian diaspora is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States on September 21. The delegation is likely to thank the Prime Minister for his decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A from the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Kashmiri Pandits in Australia supporting the move

Earlier this week, the Kashmiri Pandit community in Australia held a rally to support the Indian government's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu & 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.

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'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.

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General Debate at UNGA

PM Modi will address the annual high-level United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 27 in New York. According to an updated list of speakers for the General Debate of the 74th session of the UNGA, PM Modi will address the high-level session on the morning of September 27. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is also scheduled to address the same session shortly after PM Modi. The General Debate will commence on September 24 and run through September 30. Brazil is traditionally the first speaker on the opening day of the General Debate.

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PM Modi's visit in September and address to world leaders at the UN will be the first since he secured a second term as Prime Minister in a landslide majority win. His maiden address to world leaders at the UN General Assembly was in 2014. According to sources, the initial speakers' list indicates that about 112 Heads of State, nearly 48 Heads of Government and over 30 Foreign Ministers will arrive in New York to address the General Debate. 

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Published September 19th, 2019 at 09:10 IST

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