Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 20: Amid reports of mob attacks and harassment of Kashmiris in various parts of the country, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said people of Kashmir will always uphold their tradition of ensuring safety to outsiders at all costs.
He termed the attacks on Kashmiris in several parts as shameful. He condemned the threats of boycott and expulsion of Kashmiri students.
Mirwaiz said that the attacks on Kashmiri students and traders outside Kashmir is shameful. “Open threats of boycott and expulsion of students is condemnable. My prayers for the safety and wellbeing of all. People of Kashmir will always uphold our tradition of ensuring safety of outsiders at all cost,” he said.
He expressed concern over several hoteliers of Agra city of Uttar Pradesh have put up notices asking Kashmiri tourists to remain away from their properties. The hoteliers said that the local population of Kashmir is “supportive of militants despite our security men being killed.”
A joint statement issued by seperatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said that Kashmiris throughout history have always safeguarded religious harmony and protected all outsiders living or working here and “we will stand firm and provide safety, relief and other assistance to every outsider present on our land in future too and uphold our tradition in ensuring the safety of every human being.”
They condemned the unrelenting attacks on Kashmiris outside the Valley. They said Kashmiri businessmen, students, tourists and people from other walks of life in various States is distressing and apparently instigated by the ruling party.
They termed the attacks as ‘distressing and horrible’. They said that attacks on Kashmiri students including female students in different colleges, universities and institutions across India, business men, tourists and people from other walks of life including Government employees is in every respect a dangerous trend that is promoting hatred between humans.
They added this widespread, ‘organized unilateral violence’ against Kashmiris is apparently instigated by the ruling party as no one till date has been penalized or arrested for these hateful attacks.
“When you ruin career of young scholars and students by beating, humiliating and vandalizing them and instead of penalizing any attacker, reprimand and punish those attacked by suspending them from colleges and veracities, what alternative way are you leaving for these scholars but to tread the path of rebellion,” they asked.
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