SC asks states to ensure safety of Kashmiri students
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to Centre and 10 states over the assault of Kashmiri students after the barbaric terror attack in Pulwama on February 14. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked nodal officers of the states to ensure the students aren't discriminated against. Notably, various Kashmiri students complained of harassment in educational institutions after the attack.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves approached the SC with his plea after concerning reports emerged from across the country. CJI Gogoi was accompanied by Justices LN Rao and Sanjiv Khanna in the matter. The bench asked chief secretaries and DGPs of states and Union territories to take action to prevent any attack on Kashmiri students. The court posted the matter for next week.
#PIL on assault on Kashmiris :SC notice to Centre and 10 states and directed the states in Which incidents have taken place to take action against the accused. sC posted the matter for next week @LiveLawIndia
— Prabhati N. Mishra (@Prabhati_Mishra) February 22, 2019
The terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred, was planned by Jaish-e-Mohammed and carried out by Adil Ahmad Dar, a resident of Pulwama. While Indians grieved the deaths of the bravehearts, some took a despicable route. Kashmiri students, traders, and workers became the target of the hate campaign. Many were allegedly assaulted and some had to return to their home states.
Just as sane members of the civil society united to condemn the hate-instigated attacks, a disturbing incident from Maharashtra got attention. In Yavatmal, Kashmiri students were thrashed and slapped by Yuva Sena, Shiv Sena's youth wing. A video of the assault got viral prompting police to file a complaint. The clip purportedly showed the accused asking the students if "their relatives were terrorists."
Wading into the row, Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday called for "boycotting" Kashmiris. He tweeted: Don't buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree. His tweets started a controversy but his party, BJP, distanced itself from the remarks. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he didn't endorse his views.
An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir,don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri.
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019
I am inclined to agree
Notably, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar dismissed the reports of harassment. He said, "There is massive anger in the country against the Pulwama terror attack. However, I want to clarify that what you are trying to say (about Kashmiri students being attacked) is not true."
The assault of students invited ire of former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He said the suspension of students and the untoward incidents were part of "well thought of conspiracy". Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress for their silence, Abdullah said, "If he (PM Modi) was busy, then the home minister could have said something. Even Congress didn't say anything comforting."
