Expressing concern over repeated violence and intimidation against Kashmiri students and professionals putting up outside the state, Peoples Democratic Party President and Member Parliament Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said that it is a challenge for Prime Minister Narendera Modi to have such incidents stopped and restore confidence of youth."Reports of such incidents from various parts of country pouring in almost on regular basis are shocking and the menace has now reached an alarming stage", Mehbooba said while addressing various roadside meetings here on Sunday.
She said that there has been number of incidents where Kashmiri students, traders and sportsmen have been victimized in various parts of the country purely for their Kashmiri origin. While thousands of students, businessmen and professionals from Jammu and Kashmir are pursuing their respective professions throughout the country cases of harassment and violence as in Haryana creates a sense of insecurity among all including the families of the victims back home.Referring to the latest incidents where several students have been reportedly attacked and injured at Global Research Institute for Management and Technology, Tehsil Radhore of District Yamuna Nagar Haryana the PDP president said that it was obligatory upon the police agencies not only to ensure speedy investigation but also to take all measures to provide security to the students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in the college.
She said that Government of India has in the recent past announced various schemes in order to ensure that the students of Jammu and Kashmir get admission in various professional colleges across the country. "Such schemes were aimed at addressing the sense of alienation among the Kashmiri youth. However the purpose is defeated if those students who are pursuing their professional courses are attacked and harassed on the basis of their identity", Mehbooba said adding that not only Government of India but even the ruling party has legal and moral responsibility to ensure that such incidents are stopped. She requested Prime Minister Narendera Modi and government of Haryana to take all measure to ensure that the attackers get exemplary punishment under law so as to prove a deterrent for the others.
She said that addressing the basic issues of youth is one of the thrust areas of PDP and the party will take all measures to ensure that their sense of security and dignity is revived. She said that party has incorporated skill development, generation of employment and restoration of safety and dignity of youth in its vision document.Referring to various issues highlighted by the local residents during her road shows, the PDP president said that her party has a vision not only to address the basic issues of people but also creation of tourism related infrastructure in various parts of State including Pahalgam. The state is bestowed with natural beauty and resources but National Conference has for the years ignored the tourism sector and instead resorted to cosmetic measures.
Pahalgam is one of the premier tourist destination in the country, she said adding that even this was neglected by the coalition government over the past six years and as a result of corruption and inefficency the quality, environment and scenic grandeur of Pahalgam is severally endangered. She said the carrying capacity of Pahalgam will be substantially increased through environment friendly expansion so that it becomes an engine of growth and economic revival for the entire area and signified job opportunities are generated for the youth.She said that the recent floods have caused severe damage to infrastructure, roads and standing crops in Pahalgam constituency. PDP is committed to address the issue on war footings if it came to power and ensure early restoration of the damaged infrastructure besides proper compensation to the people who have suffered damages.