Srinagar, Apr 24 (KNS): In a deeply moving and urgent appeal, Akbar Tango, the Youth State Spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), has called upon the Union Government, state authorities, and civil society to take immediate action to safeguard Kashmiri students and workers facing a spate of targeted harassment across the country in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
“The ordeal of Kashmiri students must shake our conscience,” said Tango in a powerful statement that has begun to circulate widely. “What kind of society have we become, where innocent youth are punished for crimes they had nothing to do with?”
Following the recent terror incident in Pahalgam, multiple reports have emerged from cities like Dehradun, Dera Bassi, Chandigarh, Noida, Prayagraj, and across Himachal Pradesh, of Kashmiri students being assaulted, evicted from accommodations, and subjected to life-threatening abuse. The young leader expressed anguish over the silence of the authorities and the failure to prevent such attacks.
“These students are being hunted for their identity,” Tango added, noting that many have fled their hostels and rented rooms, fearing for their safety. Similar distress calls have been reported from Kashmiri workers and drivers in Katra and Reasi, pleading for help amidst growing hostility.
Tango’s impassioned statement emphasized that Kashmiris are Indian citizens and their rights—safety, dignity, and freedom—are non-negotiable.
In a poignant moment, Tango invoked the bravery of ordinary Kashmiris during the Pahalgam attack, when locals risked their lives to protect and rescue tourists.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe paid tribute to young horseman Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who was killed while shielding tourists, and to Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a shawl vendor who carried an injured visitor to safety.
“Hotels opened their doors. People refused to charge for food and transport. They didn’t ask names or religions. That is Kashmir. That is Kashmiriyat,” Tango declared.
Condemning threats and attacks allegedly instigated by radical groups like the Hindu Raksha Dal, he labeled them not just as acts of violence, but as "crimes against humanity, unity, and the very values India claims to stand for."
He urged educational institutions, civil rights groups, student unions, and the broader Indian public to not remain passive witnesses. “Speak up. Act. Offer support. Provide shelter. Become a lifeline,” he appealed.
Ending on a note of solidarity and hope, Tango said:
“To the Kashmiri students and workers who feel abandoned—you are not alone. Your pain is our pain. Your fight is our fight. If Kashmir can protect its guests with open hearts, can we not do the same for its children?”
The JKPC leader’s appeal has struck a chord among rights activists and student leaders, many of whom have begun mobilizing to support vulnerable students across the country. However, tangible institutional intervention remains critical.
As India grapples with its own pluralism, this call from Kashmir’s youth stands as a stark reminder: what we do now will define not only how we treat Kashmiris, but who we are becoming as a nation. (KNS)