The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) On Thursday has expressed deep disappointment and concern over the defeat of an amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that sought to address the recurrent attacks, harassment, and intimidation faced by Kashmiris working and studying in different states across the country.
In a statement, National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that what makes the development even more disturbing is that the amendment merely sought to acknowledge a real and ongoing crisis faced by Kashmiri shawl sellers, traders, labourers, students, and even patients, who continue to encounter harassment, violence, threats, and a pervasive sense of insecurity outside Jammu and Kashmir. He said the proposal was neither partisan nor ideological, but a basic and humane call for protection, safety, livelihood security, and the preservation of human dignity of Kashmiri citizens.
The association said it finds it difficult to comprehend why even this minimal and compassionate acknowledgment could not command the support of the House. The absence of a strong condemnation of such attacks, or a clear commitment to engage with the Union Government and concerned states to ensure accountability, sends a deeply troubling signal to affected communities who already feel vulnerable and unheard.
Khuehami noted that the amendment, moved by an opposition MLA from Handwara, specifically highlighted the lack of any reference in the Lieutenant Governor’s Address to attacks on Kashmiri students, traders, and hawkers in various states and Union Territories, as well as the absence of any mention of concrete communication or coordination with the Union Government and state authorities to take strict action against those responsible for such acts.
The association expressed its gratitude to opposition MLAs who raised this crucial issue on the floor of the House and stood firmly with Kashmiris at a time when silence and indifference would have been easier. JKSA reiterated that Kashmiris are equal citizens of India, entitled to live, work, study, travel, and seek medical care anywhere in the country without fear or intimidation.
It emphasised that repeated attacks on Kashmiri traders and shawl sellers are not isolated incidents but represent a pattern that demands serious legislative attention, institutional safeguards, and effective inter-state coordination.
Khuehami urged the elected government and all political parties to rise above partisan considerations and treat the safety and dignity of Kashmiri citizens as a collective responsibility, warning that ignoring or downplaying these concerns risks further alienation and undermines faith in democratic institutions.
Association added that it will continue to pursue the matter through institutional, legal, and parliamentary channels and will not relent until effective mechanisms are put in place to protect Kashmiris across the country and ensure that those responsible for acts of violence and intimidation are held fully accountable.
