Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concerns on Wednesday that “all Kashmiris are being looked at with suspicion” following a recent blast in Delhi, despite only “a few people” being implicated in the incident. He claimed a narrative is forming that unfairly associates the entire community with the actions of a minority, complicating the ability of Kashmiris to travel outside the region.
Speaking at an event in Kulgam, Abdullah noted that parents are now hesitant to send their children away for studies or work due to this prevailing atmosphere of distrust. “When we are looked at with suspicious eyes from every side, and attempts are made to defame us for someone else’s actions, it becomes challenging for us to leave,” he said, acknowledging the painful nature of this reality.
Moreover, Abdullah shared his personal apprehensions regarding travel in Delhi, stating, “Today, driving a vehicle with J&K registration in Delhi is considered a crime.” He remarked on the anxiety he feels about driving his own car in the capital, worried that he might be stopped and questioned about his identity without adequate security.
The Chief Minister emphasized that while only a handful are accountable for the blast, the perception being created implicates all Kashmiris. “A narrative is being built that blames all Kashmiris for the Delhi incident,” he asserted.
He also criticized the Union government’s claims of restored peace in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. “We were told that bloodshed from the past 30 to 35 years would not repeat, but it has not stopped,” Abdullah remarked. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government revoked Article 370, which accorded special status to the former state, in August 2019, subsequently splitting it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Following a Supreme Court ruling in December 2023 that upheld the validity of the 2019 order while directing the Union government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, demands for reinstating the region’s special status have intensified.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association also reported that students were facing profiling, eviction, and intimidation in various northern states in the aftermath of the Delhi blast. Its national convenor, Nasir Khuehami, called for intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the vilification of the community.
On November 14, Abdullah condemned the Delhi blast and called for severe punishment for those responsible, reminding that the actions of a “handful of people” should not tarnish the reputation of the majority of peace-loving residents in the Union Territory. “Every resident of Jammu and Kashmir is not a terrorist,” he stated, emphasizing that “only a handful have tried to disrupt peace and harmony here.”
The blast occurred near the Red Fort metro station on November 10, resulting in 13 fatalities. The Union government later classified it as a “terrorist incident.” The individual believed to have driven the explosive-laden vehicle was identified as Umar Nabi, a resident of Kashmir.
In the aftermath, reports of increased scrutiny, profiling, and intimidation against Kashmiris throughout India have surfaced, particularly regarding students and travelers from Jammu and Kashmir. Detentions and raids have further continued across the Valley.
Tragically, a Kashmiri father succumbed to his injuries after he set himself ablaze in Qazigund on Sunday, following police denial of his request to meet his detained son. He had suffered from nearly 90% burns and was admitted to a Srinagar hospital.
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