Kashmiri vendors thrashed in Lucknow: Omar & Mehbooba react sharply

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Srinagar: Condemning the attack on Kashmiri vendors in Lucknow, the two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, in a series of tweets, said that Lucknow-like incidents will do more harm to idea of India in Jammu and Kashmir than anything.

It must be recalled that two Kashmiri vendors were abused and thrashed in Lucknow, by a group of men clad in saffron kurtas on Wednesday. The vendors were selling dry fruits on the roadside. The video of the entire incident which was caught on camera went viral on social media, drawing the administration’s attention and the people’s ire.

Claiming that goons of RSS and Bajrang Dal are involved in such attacks National Conference leader Omar sought Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s intervention. He tweeted, “Nothing will do more damage to the idea of India in J&K than videos like these. Keep thrashing Kashmiris like this on the streets at the hands of RSS/Bajrang Dal goons & then try to sell the idea of ‘atoot ang’, it simply won’t fly.”

In another tweet he asked, “Jenab Rajnath Singh sahib. You represent this constituency in the Lok Sabha, this is the constituency where Vajpayee Sb was elected from & went on to be PM. If no one else will step in & deliver justice can we expect you to punish those guilty of this assault? (sic)”.

Appreciating the action taken by Lucknow police Omar expressed hope that those on the run will also be arrested soon.

On the other side, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also reacted sharply to the incident. She lamented that saffron-clad goons have no fear of law. She tweeted, “Kashmiris are being hounded and punished. The culprits here were clad in saffron kurtas and are from VHP. They have no fear and in fact uploaded the video on social media.”

While expressing fear that attempts are being made to communalise the atmosphere ahead of the general elections, the PDP chief alleged that these elements enjoy political support. She asked in a tweet, “You humiliate and assault Kashmiris. Make them feel like criminals and that they don’t belong to this country. Why are you surprised then when young pliable men are taken under the wings of terror groups and indoctrinated?”

it must be noted that following Pulwama terror attack, the attacks on Kashmiri people residing in different parts of the country have risen. Several incidents of attacks on Kashmiri people have been reported since then.

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