Following the Chittorgarh incident, where a group of Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan was allegedly called terrorists and beaten up by the locals, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday appealed to all the states in order to ensure the safety of all Kashmiris living across the country, insisting that they are equal citizens of India.
“I appeal to all states, they should ensure the safety of all Kashmiris anywhere in the country. They are also equal citizens of India,” he said.
The Kashmiri youth also contribute in the progress of India. Action should be taken by the states against those who target them.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 21, 2017
Condemning the discrimination, Singh said that all the states have been directed to take strict action against those committing any sort of violence against Kashmiri students.
Asserting that “Kashmiris are a part of our family” he said, “Rajyon ko kaha hai ki koi bhi Kashmiri bacchon ke saath kahin badsalooqi karta hai uspe kadi karyavahi ki jaaye.”
I have asked the HS to immediately issue an advisory to all the states to ensure the safety and security of Kashmiri students.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 21, 2017
MHA Helpline Number for the people of J&K living in other parts of the country. pic.twitter.com/ojGAIIFkBo
— HMO India (@HMOIndia) April 21, 2017
On Wednesday, a group of Kashmiri student was allegedly beaten up by the locals as they were upset over soldiers being targeted by stone pelters in the strife-torn border state. However, this is not the first instance of discrimination; in March 2016, four Kashmiri students were beaten up over rumors of beef being cooked in the university hostel. The following month, some Kashmiri students got into a scuffle with another group over India’s loss to West Indies in the T20 cricket world cup. Sixteen Kashmiri students and a warden, also from Kashmir, were suspended by the university after the incident.
After the turmoil, banners instigating the boycott of Kashmiri and threatening them to leave Uttar Pradesh has been seen along Delhi-Dehradun highway. The Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena, a little-known outfit has asked Kashmiris to leave the state by April 30.
