‘Harassment’ of Kashmiris in other states is matter of national security: Sajad Lone

“This behaviour against Kashmiris in the rest of the country should not to be taken lightly. This is a matter of national security,” Lone, the MLA from Handwara, said at a press conference here.

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone on Saturday said “harassment” of Kashmiris in some parts of the country should be treated as a matter of national security, and urged the lieutenant governor and chief minister to intervene in the matter.

Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone on Saturday said “harassment” of Kashmiris in some parts of the country should be treated as a matter of national security, and urged the lieutenant governor and chief minister to intervene in the matter. (HT File)

“This behaviour against Kashmiris in the rest of the country should not to be taken lightly. This is a matter of national security,” Lone, the MLA from Handwara, said at a press conference here.

His remarks came in the wake of the alleged assault on a Kashmir trader, a shawl seller, in Uttarakhand.

Lone appealed to the Prime Minister and the Union home minister to treat the issue as a matter of national security.

The legislator from Handwara said he was compelled to speak after being approached by numerous families from his constituency who narrated disturbing experiences faced by their relatives outside Jammu and Kashmir. “If in our own country we are subjected to this kind of behaviour, then one has to ask a painful question—what is our status in this country?” he said while addressing a press conference.

Describing recent official action as inadequate, Lone said... “Arresting two individuals when there are hundreds or thousands of incidents is like a drop in the ocean.”

Lone urged the Union government to act decisively against those targeting Kashmiris.