Jammu, Feb 3, KNT: Legislators of the National Conference on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest outside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, voicing serious concern over what they termed a continuing pattern of harassment and attacks against Kashmiri students, traders and shawl sellers in various parts of the country.
The protesting lawmakers raised slogans and displayed placards asserting that Kashmiris are citizens of the country and not suspects. Messages such as “Kashmiris are citizens, not suspects” and “Special status was a promise, not a privilege” were prominently displayed, alongside appeals to stop what they described as demonisation of Kashmiris on religious grounds.
The NC legislators accused the Union government of maintaining silence despite repeated reports of intimidation and humiliation faced by Kashmiris outside the Union Territory. They said the lack of a firm response was contributing to a climate of fear among Kashmiri inhabitants living, studying or doing business in other states.
Speaking to reporters at the protest site, NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq said a fresh incident involving an elderly Kashmiri couple in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, had come to light earlier in the day. He said the couple was allegedly harassed, adding that such incidents were no longer rare or isolated.
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Sadiq said Kashmiris, particularly Kashmiri Muslims, were increasingly being targeted wherever they travelled. He termed this trend dangerous and incompatible with democratic values, stating that harassment in the name of misplaced patriotism was unacceptable.
The NC leader urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene decisively and issue clear directions to all states to ensure the safety and dignity of Kashmiris. He said continued silence was emboldening elements involved in such acts.
The protesting legislators reiterated their demand for restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and called for immediate steps to safeguard the constitutional rights of Kashmiris across the country. [KNT]
