New Delhi: Just when the Prime Minister and chief ministers of all states, except two absentees, were discussing the future of India at a NITI Aayog meeting on Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti urged everyone to ensure safety of Kashmiri students. “They are like your own children,” said an emotional Mufti, whose plea was seconded by Narendra Modi, who said states should “reach out to Kashmiri students from time to time.”
In a similar appeal on April 21, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said Kashmiris are “equal citizens of India” and advised chief ministers to ensure safety of Kashmiri youths.
ALSO READ | 'Shocked' Kashmiri Scholar Leaves BITS Pilani Campus After Threats
“As I woke up early, I couldn’t believe my eyes for what was written on the door of my room at Malviya Bhawan Hostel. To add to the surprise, I later on found my clothes have also been pasted with some heart-breaking slogans. I wonder why such animosity for the Kashmiris,” Hashim Sofi, a research fellow at Science and Engineering Research Board, wrote in a Facebook post.
Sofi told News18 on Sunday that he was moving out of the institute as his family was scared for his life. “I reported the matter to my warden and guide. They were very sad, they had been supporting me... but I could not reconcile with the threats,” he said.
This came after a series of recent attacks on young Kashmiris in various parts of India, including the one in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, where eight Kashmiri students were assaulted near Mewar University on April 19.
“My friends and I had gone to buy groceries. A group of local men stopped us and asked if we were Kashmiris. When we said yes, the hooligans started abusing and blaming us for the recent video in which CRPF jawans were seen being harassed in Srinagar. The abuses soon turned into violent assault,” said Faisal, who is from Bandipura in Kashmir.
Several students expressed fears about frequent questioning and searches by police simply on the basis of their Kashmiri identity. “I have been living in Delhi for close to a decade. Every August 15 and January 26, I leave the city for a few days to escape harassment from police. Four years ago, a constable made me surrender my driving licence ahead of Republic Day. In 2015, cops knocked my door and forced me to take off the Dish TV,” said a 27-year-old student of visual effect and animation at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi.
“They checked my room and asked for ID proof. I am studying in one of the most reputed universities in India. Give me one reason for barging into my room, and I will oblige. This was for nothing but my Kashmiri identity,” said Adil Bhat, from Anantanag, who now stays in New Friends Colony, an upmarket neighbourhood in South Delhi.
Syed Tajamul Imran, president, All J&K Students Union (AJKSU), said almost every week a case of abuse against Kashmiri students in recorded. “We get at least one case of attack or abuse in a week. Why can’t people just let young Kashmiris live peacefully? In some cases, violence continued till the students left the colleges,” he said.
Even Ladakhis have been at the receiving end of the hate crimes. Nadeem Afroz, a Gurgaon-based law student from Kargil said “muscular nationalists” don’t make the distinction between a Kashmiri and a Ladhaki. “I live in Gurgaon and drive my father’s old car, which has a ‘JK’ registration number. One night, my flatmate and I stepped out to eat at Cyber Hub. A group of drunk men saw my car and asked me if I was from Jammu. When I told them that I am a Ladakhi from Kargil, they became abusive. One of them said everyone in Kargil is a terrorist. I and my friend rushed out quickly fearing assault,” he said.
“There is so much of talk on how the Valley should be treated… These conversations trickle down to Kashmiris living outside their homes. There are not many intelligent conversations that happen over coffee with regards to the Valley and those from it,” said Wani.
And then there are those like Afroz who says he tries to remember only positive experiences to overcome fear and hate. “When some attacks on Kashmiris were reported in parts of Haryana, a local police officer called me to ask if I was facing any problem. Even though I have had more negative experiences than the positive ones, it is people like these who make my faith in India stronger,” he said.
Comments
0 comment