Three of the Kashmiri students suspended from Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
As I was writing this story, my phone beeped and an app of a private news channel flashed on my mobile phone. It was news that came to light today about a Kashmiri woman, who was allegedly raped by two jawans of the Indian Reserve Police.
I paused for a minute, looked at my phone, took a deep sigh and my keyboard started bearing a lot more burden as if I was venting out all my anguish with every key stroke.
Controversy regarding the Kashmiri students was brewing again and I was told to write a piece on it. Three students from Kashmir who study in a private University in Noida (National Capital Region) alleged that their fellow students misbehaved with them and forced them to shout anti-Pakistan slogans.
The student alleged that the fellow students ‘asked us to shout India Zindabad and Pakistan Murdabad’. The latest incident comes two months after over 60 students were expelled from a Meerut University as they were cheering for Pakistan cricket team during the Asia Cup match.
I immediately turned to my Kashmiri friends, who are studying with me in University in New Delhi for their reactions. One of them, Akbar, said: “As a Kashmiri I do not feel safe in any part of India.”
This remark took me more than two decades back to 1990, when a lot of Kashmiri students were arrested.
After having a detailed discussion with a few Kashmiris studying in my own university, I made out that they are being perceived as anti-state and a fear looms over their lives in India. They never go out alone and always move in groups as they feel safer that way.
Another Kashmiri student, who don’t want to be named for the obvious reasons, said, “Such incidents and attacks on Kashmiri students gives us an idea that India is not serious about peace in Kashmir and it does not want to keep the Kashmiris in its society.”
However, this incident has altogether been painted with political colours during the on-going high voltage elections in India, where the territory’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has lambasted anti-communal forces responsible for this incident. Taking the name of Bharatiya Janta Party’s prime ministerial candidate he said, “[Narendra] Modi is playing with fire”.
This is the third time that this type of incident has taken place in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister also took a dig at UP’s inability to tackle the situation and provide safety to the students and amidst his speech he took out time to praise the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA II).
A lot of students from Kashmir come to India to study and for other business purposes that reflects some reconciliation on their part as they are contributing towards the Indian economy. But surely incidents like the one on hand and the propaganda that Kashmir is an integral part of India don’t go together.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2014.
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@Syed Jalal Look at what Surya, your kashmiri brother whom you guys killed and drove out in 89 has to say. First make the people of your own state but from a different religion to feel safe in Kashmir , then talk about merging or Azadi etc. People in glass houses should not throw stones at others.
If you still can't do that , then leave the valley and go to AJK in PoK . By the way , Jammu and Ladakh and the other non valley parts of JK state will remain in India , so India will not relinquish its part of Kashmir that is under India's control. Go and swim across the river to the other part if you still want to go to Pakistan.
Kashmiris get attacked, beaten, harassed, abused, and Indians claim its the Kashmiri victims' fault. When we read from or hear what these Indians say about Kashmir, I honestly don't want to have anything to do with them.
I am in Indian-occupied Kashmir, and I support union with Pakistan for Kashmir. I am not alone, most of us wish to merge with Pakistan. In sha Allah soon we will be united with our beloved Muslim brothers and sisters and gain our freedom and happiness. I ask Pakistanis to please make a special prayer for Kashmiris. We know the depth of your love, and we love you the same.
I'm a Kashmiri Pandit, unable to return to my homeland thanks to separatist elements. I don't feel safe in my own birthplace, but in other parts of the country. This is thank you these radicals who ethically cleansed us from the valley. If aren't happy in India, then they are more welcome to leave for "Azad Kashmir".
Calling them Kashmiri is somewhat ok but this particularly line by you "A lot of students from Kashmir come to India to study and for other business purposes" make me think that you are one of those people who have mindset that Kashmir is not part of India. And treat them as outsiders.
They are Indian no matter what, and should be treated as Indians. On making them shout Pakistan Murdabad might be wrong but their support to Pakistan is even worse.
They only support Pakistan because they are not part of it and will never be part of it. There is very old and excellent saying in hindi for their attitude: "Dur ke Dhol Suhavane".
Pakistan need to help Kashmir in order to get its freedom from India
this will happen to kashmiris in india if they keep chanting anti india slogans.
"Such incidents and attacks on Kashmiri students gives us an idea that India is not serious about peace in Kashmir and it does not want to keep the Kashmiris in its society"....i think its the other way around...kashmiris dont want to be part of the society and anti-national elements are not treated well in India...So just keep sitting there and keep sighing....