NC activists protest against harassment of Kashmiris outside valley
Srinagar: National Conference Saturday took out a protest march here against the intimidation and harassment of the people of Kashmir outside the valley and demanded such attacks be immediately stopped.
Scores of NC activists, led by party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, assembled at the party headquarters ‘Nawai-Subah’ here and took out a protest march.
They shouted slogans against the attacks and harassment of Kashmiris outside the valley and demanded it be stopped immediately. The protesters also raised slogans in favor of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh unity.
The protestors marched towards TRC Crossing where they were stopped by a heavy contingent of police.
Speaking to reporters, Sagar asked whether the attacks on Kashmiris were part of any “political conspiracy”.
“Kashmiris are being targeted across the country. Do they not think of us as Indian citizens? Why are Kashmiri students being targeted? Is it a political conspiracy? Is it being done to help some win the elections as J-K is the only Muslim-majority state in the country?” he said.
Sagar said the party wants to convey to the Centre that there have been attempts to suppress the people of Kashmir in the past as well, “but the people of Kashmir cannot be suppressed”.
He expressed dismay over the slack attitude of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ensuring safety and security of Kashmiri traders, students putting up across the country.
“It is bizarre to see how the prime minister of a secular democratic country like India has remained tight lipped over the plight of Kashmiris across the country. We Kashmiri had seen the dream of Naya Kashmir come true in the efforts of a secular India, however the way Kashmiris are being hounded has traumatized us to our core,” he said.
“The party stands for freedom of thought and the reported move of government to stop government adds to some major dailies of state including Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Reader is condemnable. It is tantamount to shooting the messenger. The decision should be rolled back. Decisions like these do not augur well for a democratic set up and it will unarguably affect the livelihood of scores of people associated with the dailies,” Sagar said.
Addressing the protest rally, Party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said that reported mass scale arrests and banning of governments advertisements to two local dailies before the hearing of Art 35 A in the Supreme Court has raised apprehensions in masses.
“Our party will resist any attempt aimed at fiddling with our special status. Those who are aiming to touch it are indeed playing with fire. The muteness of BJP on the unremitting attacks on Kashmiris speaks volumes about the hate that BJP panders for us. The outrageous statements of various people against Kashmiris are also condemnable,” he said.
He however, said, “We are thankful to the apex court for coming to the rescue of Kashmiris putting up across the country,” he said, adding “The secular visage of the country has severely been dented by targeted attack against Kashmiris. The partisan approach of the BJP led central government has further alienated the people, especially the youth of Kashmir.”
On random arrests of JeI leaders Wani said, “Random arrests including nocturnal raids across Kashmir has created a fear psychosis among people. Such measures do not augur well for maintaining peace and harmony in the state. We have seen how similar kind of arrests in early 90’s worsened the problem. Unfortunately similar tactics are being employed now but it is bound to create more problems.”
KV News
