Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 28: The Peoples Democratic President, Mehbooba Mufti today said that booking of students under stringent anti-terror law for cheering for Australia in the world cup final sends a wrong message from the country to the outside world.
“It’s a very bad thing for the county of this size. Sports ought to be seen as a kind of art, and we have observed that every Prime Minister the nation has ever seen has attended the games and supported the teams that were playing better that day. Some people in Jammu and Kashmir insist that everything is fine, but there is so much fear, anxiety and paranoia that some kids who cheered Australia’s victory are being put through this kind of testing,” she told reporters.
The PDP president said that people’s hearts and minds can’t be won over at gunpoint. “…instead, you must win their hearts and minds. How many individuals will you lock up? I have been arguing that you can put someone in jail, but you can’t stop his ideas,” she asked.
She said that UAPA is grossly misused for targeting journalists and activists. “Kashmir’s youth are especially vulnerable to dangers. The UAPA, a law intended primarily for terrorists, is being used to charge the journalists. This law is being used against activists such as Khuram Parveez. And now you are ruining the careers of students by utilizing this law against them. You should make up your mind. If all you want is this land, then come take it and drive us out in the same way that Israel is removing the Palestinians from their land,” she said.
Mufti said by booking the students administration is ruining their career. “You ought to finish it once and for all; why are you confining our children to languish in jails? When a few students support a team, you book them under the harsh UAPA law, which can ruin their career. How far are you willing to push the people of Jammu and Kashmir? You did not trust them,” she said.
The PDP president urged the LG to prevent ruining the careers of these students. “Do you want to push Kashmiri youngsters to the extent so that they are left with no choice other than committing suicide or choose alternative methods? What do you want from the Kashmiri people? I vehemently denounce it and urge Manoj Sinha, the LG, to step in to prevent these seven students’ lives from being destroyed in this manner,” she said.
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