NC lawmakers stage protest outside Assembly; demand PM and HM to intervene

STC NEWS DESK
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 03 (STC): A sit-in protest was staged by the National Conference (NC) legislators today outside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. They were voicing serious concern over “a continuing pattern of harassment and attacks” against Kashmiri students, traders and shawl sellers in various parts of the country.
The NC legislators 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.
They also accused the Union government of maintaining silence despite repeated reports of intimidation and humiliation faced by Kashmiris outside the Union Territory.
“A firm response was contributing to a climate of fear among Kashmiri inhabitants living, studying or doing business in other states,” they said.
NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq quoting a fresh incident involving an elderly Kashmiri couple in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, said the couple was allegedly harassed, adding that such incidents were no longer rare or isolated.
He 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.
He 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.

(Straight Talk Communications)