Sajad Kitchloo Flags Harassment of Kashmiri Shawl Sellers in Rajya Sabha | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Rajya Sabha member Sajad Kitchloo on Tuesday raised concerns in the Upper House over the alleged targeting and harassment of Kashmiri shawl sellers in various parts of the country, linking the incidents to what he described as a wider climate of suspicion towards Kashmiris outside the Union Territory.

Speaking during the proceedings, Kitchloo said that repeated reports involving Kashmiri shawl sellers indicated a disturbing pattern of hostility. He questioned whether Kashmiris were being compelled to live in fear while travelling or working in other states and asked if equal citizenship rights and basic security were being ensured for people from the region.

The MP also criticised the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the erstwhile state was divided unilaterally with the separation of Ladakh, contrary to assurances that its unity would be preserved. He further questioned the government’s position on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and sought clarity on what progress had been made on those claims.

Referring to the August 5, 2019 decision, Kitchloo termed the move illegal and said it had deepened political and social alienation in the region. He argued that assurances of unity had given way to fragmentation, with long-term consequences.

Raising concerns over civil liberties, Kitchloo alleged that journalists critical of the authorities were facing harassment and that religious clerics were being profiled. He warned that the suppression of dissent and targeting of critical voices weakened democratic functioning.

He said the issues he raised reflected ground realities and cautioned that ignoring them would have serious implications, contributing to the ongoing parliamentary debate on the political and rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several reports of harassment and physical assaults on Kashmiri shawl sellers and seasonal workers from hill towns in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have renewed long-standing concerns over the safety of Kashmiri labour migrants.