Er Rashid Writes to Uttarakhand, Himachal CMs Over Assaults on Kashmiri Traders | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Baramulla Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid has written to the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, seeking immediate and stringent action against those allegedly involved in assaults and public humiliation of Kashmiri shawl sellers in their respective states.

The letters, sent through his legal counsel, were confirmed by Awami Itihaad Party Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, who said the jailed MP expressed deep concern over recent incidents targeting Kashmiri traders outside Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the party, Engineer Rashid, in his letter to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, referred to television visuals showing Kashmiri shawl sellers being assaulted and harassed by fringe elements. He described the incidents as deeply distressing and said they severely damage Himachal Pradesh’s long-held reputation for tolerance and secularism.

Rashid questioned whether similar acts against non-Kashmiris in Jammu and Kashmir would have been met with silence, asserting that such offenders in Kashmir would have faced stringent legal action and been labelled extremists. He warned that repeated inaction not only undermines claims of inclusiveness but also deeply hurts the collective dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In a separate letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, the jailed MP raised strong objections to the alleged assault of a Kashmiri shawl seller from his constituency. He asked whether being Kashmiri had effectively become a crime in parts of the country and reminded the state government that Kashmiris have historically welcomed tourists and outsiders with respect and hospitality.

Rashid cautioned that selective silence and weak responses to such incidents embolden miscreants and normalise lawlessness. He stressed that failure to act decisively risks legitimising violence in the name of ultra-nationalism.

In both letters, Engineer Rashid demanded exemplary punishment for those involved, urging the state governments to ensure the safety, dignity and livelihood of Kashmiri traders working outside the Union Territory. Copies of the communications have also been forwarded to the Union Home Secretary, seeking central intervention to safeguard Kashmiris studying or earning their livelihood across the country, the party spokesperson said.