Srinagar: Senior National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi strongly criticised the harassment of two Kashmiri cloth traders in Himachal Pradesh, calling the incident a reflection of the current divisive state of the nation.
Reacting to a viral video showing a woman, identifying herself as the wife of a local sarpanch, threatening the traders, Mehdi took to social media to express his outrage.
“Idea of BJP’s India explained in this 2-3 minutes video. Kashmir is not part of India. Too much for “integration of Kashmir” after the abrogation of 370. The criteria for holding Indian citizenship is chanting a slogan of a particular religion. If there is some India still left which functions on its law and principles. This lady should be booked under Section 196, 197 and 302 (sic),” the senior leader posted on X.
The woman had threatened the men, demanding they leave the state or chant “Jai Shri Ram,” while instructing others villagers – behind the camera- to boycott their business.
In the viral video, the woman can be heard saying, “We are Hindus, and we have our own Hindu community selling the same things. We should buy from them. Why would someone, especially Muslims, come from somewhere else and do business here? This is our India; you go to your Kashmir. We don’t need you here. I will request everyone not to purchase anything from you. Just leave from here.”
When one of the Muslim men responded, saying they are also Indians, the woman retorted, “If you are Indians, then chant Jai Shri Ram.” The man explained, “We are Muslims and cannot chant a Hindu slogan praising your deity. Religion is different, and nationality is different.”* The woman, however, insisted, saying, *”Either chant the slogan or leave the state.”
The traders had travelled to Himachal Pradesh to earn their livelihood, a common practice among Kashmiri shawl and dry fruit sellers working across India. This is not the first instance of harassment faced by Kashmiri traders outside the Valley, raising concerns about their safety and the rising trend of communal targeting.
Meanwhile, national convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir students association, Nasir Khuehami, told Free Press Kashmir that he has requested the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and JK CM Omar Abdullah to take immediate and decisive action by directing the authorities to register a case against her under the relevant provisions of the law.
“Such behaviour must not go unchecked. Social harmony and communal unity must be upheld at all costs. Strict action in this matter will send a strong message that communal bigotry has no place in a progressive and inclusive society,” Khuehami told FPK.
Khuehami added that Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu’s office assured that an inquiry would be ordered into the matter. “Concerns were raised with the Principal Media Advisor to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan,” Khuehami told FPK.
“The Chief Minister will order an inquiry into the matter, and we will ensure strict action against those responsible. We are committed to ensuring the safety of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in the state and Kashmiri labourers working here. They will not be harmed or harassed at any cost,” Chauhan told Khuehami in response to the complaint, according to a statement shared with FPK.
