India considers Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of it. This policy was introduced in Constitution Order in 1954, which was issued by the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad. He made part II of the Indian constitution applicable to state.
In the aftermath of Pulwama attack on Feb 14 that killed 40 CRPF jawans, which was one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir from past three decades. Kashmiris were declared anti-national on social media which followed by calls for boycott of Kashmiris and Kashmir product.
The anti-national sentiments came from social media to a real world. When Tathagata Roy, the Governor of Meghalaya called for the boycott of everything related to Kashmiri. In Jammu, which is the major part of Jammu and Kashmir State, where more than 50 Kashmiri cars were burnt. People were searching number plates and burning cars which were Kashmiri based. In North Indian states mobs threatened Kashmiri students with knives and rods, asking them to go back to their hometown. It was not only students but several thousands have left their place of work in anticipation of violence and go back to Kashmir. Shops of Kashmiri handicrafts were closed in few other places in country. The artists who leave their home for six months to earn a livelihood by selling Kashmiri handicraft products. They all had to come back without any means to support their families.
The hate campaign against Kashmiris reached to a certain level when colleges started denying admission to Kashmiris and some students were also expelled. In Agra, one of the famous cities in Uttar Pradesh district where one Hotel had displayed ‘Dogs are allowed but Kashmiris are not’. Kashmiris were asked to move out of their rented homes with that some also lost their jobs.
Sharing my personal experience, on 15th Feb (one day after Pulwama attack), one of my friend Ghalib who is studying in a college in Chandigarh called me in night. He told me, “Maajid, why am I being targeted, why God gave birth to me in Kashmir, he could have given birth to us in some other place also”. He was being harassed by a group of people there and they were calling him atankwadi (terrorist) continuously. During our conversation, Ghalib told me that his senior Kashmiri seniors who were living outside hostel were asked to go home immediately and their water supply was blocked by locals there. While listening to him I became very emotional. But all I could do was to suggest him to go back home. Similarly like Ghalib, my two cousins who were studying in Jaipur, were also harassed and they had to return back home. Like my friend Ghalib, my two cousins or thousands of Kashmiri students who were asked to go back home, they all had right to education but unfortunately it was snatched from them. If Kashmir is claimed to be an integral part of India then why don’t people of Kashmir?
Yes, he was a Kashmiri who carried out Pulwama attack, linked with militant group Jaish- e-Mohammad. Because of one person whole community can’t be blamed. Days after this attack three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist were killed in Kashmir, according to reports these terrorists were also involved in Pulwama attack. Among the security personnel who laid their lives while fighting terrorists was Kashmiri, Abdul Rashid. Last month on republic day, country’s highest peacetime award, the Ashoka Chakra was given to Kashmiri, Nazir Ahmed Wani. There are thousands of Rashid’s and Nazir’s who have sacrificed their lives for country.
I am sure militancy will never be successful in taking Kashmir away from India, but those wearing badge of nationalism will surely take it away from India.
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