Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Thursday voiced serious concern over reports of harassment of Kashmiris in different parts of the country, urging the central government to safeguard their dignity and security.
Lone said reports of profiling and mistreatment of Kashmiris have become increasingly frequent, adding that stereotyping a Kashmiri has unfortunately turned into a recurring practice. He said the issue is not new but has grown “more chronic in the last decade.”
Highlighting the anxiety among families back home, Lone said lakhs of Kashmiris live across India for business, education and work, and their families constantly fear that any adverse incident could endanger their safety. He said these concerns are genuine and require urgent attention.
Acknowledging the existence of extremism in every society, Lone said such individuals are exceptions and should not be allowed to define an entire population. He warned that in the case of Kashmir, the actions of such radical elements are aimed at ensuring harassment of Kashmiris and pushing them further into a cycle of alienation.
Lone appealed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Home Ministry to ensure that Kashmiris, like all citizens of India, are treated with dignity and are not subjected to harassment anywhere in the country. [KNT]
