by Salma Masood/ Mir Suneem
Srinagar: In wake of the of the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) and other transport bodies on Tuesday held a press conference at Srinagar to condemn the assault on Kashmiris outside the valley.
The trade bodies demanded safety and protection of their fellow Kashmiris in different parts of the country who are being harassed and threatened at the hands of local “goons and hooligans” to leave the country.
“Kashmiris are the worst victims of conflict and we have been mourning the death of our loved ones every single day since the last 70 years,” Mohammad Yaseen Khan, president KTMF said while addressing media in Srinagar.
“We can’t be happy with anyone’s death. We condole the death of paramilitary men killed in Pulwama attack but the way Kashmiris are being attacked Kashmiris is unfortunate and highly condemnable,” Khan said.
Khan also condemned the role of administration and trade bodies of Jammu. “The authorities and stakeholders in Jammu should have handled the situation maturely instead of politicizing it and instigating violence,” he said.
Reacting to the miserable condition of Kashmiris outside the valley, he said “Kashmiris are peace-lovers and an example of hospitality and religious harmony. We have never caused any trouble or discomfort to outsiders in Kashmir or done any injustice on the basis of someone’s religion but we are being treated in the exact opposite manner.”
Khan lashed out at hate mongers for attempting to divide people on the basis of religion and trigger violence against innocent people of Kashmir.
Reacting to the reports of an assault on Kashmiri students in Dehradun, Delhi, Panjab, Jammu, Rajasthan and others parts of India, Khan said; “the country that claims to be the largest democracy in the world is not even able to provide protection to the students studying in various parts of the country. Interestingly some Kashmiri students have taken their admission in various colleges under PM’s educational schemes but now they are being harassed and given an ultimatum to leave the country.”
“We couldn’t understand the hypocrisy of government who on one hand pitches for dialogue to solve Kashmir issue but on the other hand don’t leave a single chance to suppress Kashmiris,” Khan added.
Meanwhile, on behalf of his association, Khan expressed gratitude to the Sikh community for helping and providing relief to Kashmiris in the hour of despair.
In addition to that, the trade bodies of Kashmir appealed the international human rights communities all over the world to assess the situation of Kashmiris and take measures to ascertain their security.
