Jammu, Feb 3: Legislators of the National Conference (NC) on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest outside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, expressing concern over what they described as a growing pattern of harassment and attacks against Kashmiri students, traders and shawl sellers in different parts of the country.
The protesting lawmakers raised slogans and held placards reading “Kashmiris are citizens, not suspects” and “Special status was a promise, not a privilege,” while urging an end to what they termed the demonisation of Kashmiris, particularly on religious grounds.
NC leaders accused the Union government of remaining silent despite repeated reports of intimidation and humiliation faced by Kashmiris outside the Union Territory, saying this silence was fostering fear among those living, studying or doing business in other states.
Addressing reporters, NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq referred to a fresh incident reported from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where an elderly Kashmiri couple was allegedly harassed. He said such incidents were becoming frequent and could no longer be dismissed as isolated cases.
Sadiq warned that targeting Kashmiris, especially Kashmiri Muslims, was a dangerous trend incompatible with democratic values. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene and issue clear directions to states to ensure the safety and dignity of Kashmiris.
The NC legislators also reiterated their demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and called for immediate measures to protect the constitutional rights of Kashmiris across the country.