Srinagar: At Jama Masjid today The events unfolding after the horrendous Pahalgam incident have again shown that whenever such things happen it is the people of Kashmir who bear the brunt and suffer.Despite peoples unanimous condemnation of it , it is people of Kashmir who are being held to account and targeted.Massive crackdowns are taking place . Two people Altaf Lali and Ghulam Rasool margay have been killed with families claiming that it was extra judicial killings which should be impartially investigated. Thousands of people have been detained and scores of houses have been demolished by explosions , rendering families homeless and desolate . The vilification of Kashmiri’s by large sections of media has forced students and professionals outside to return in fear. How is all this helping in punishing the perpetrators if that is the aim ?
Another humanitarian issue coming up is the deportations of hundreds of people which is leading to the division of families with mothers being separated from little children and husbands from wives . One such incident led to the tragic death of 80 year old and paralysed Abdul Waheed Bhat on a bus while being deported . In Kashmir it’s sorrow after sorrow and grief after grief that visits us. I appeal to the Govt of India to revisit this policy. It is inimical to actual peace and stability in jammu and Kashmir if that is what the Govt of India wants for J&K . I also appeal to them that on humanitarian grounds the family members of such not be deported and their families made to suffer.
Also after the unjust and politically motivated banning of JKAAC , now announcements are made on police loudspeakers , threatening people of dire consequences for associating with it. People know that this Organization has always stood for peace and reconciliation and understand that these are fear building tactics. It would be better to win over people than to intimidate them into submission.
Lastly We pray that the situation between India and Pakistan that is getting worse by the day is resolved without going to war .
