In a significant move during the ongoing Assembly Budget Session, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, has called upon Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to place the issue of “systemic harassment” of Kashmiris at the forefront of his high-level deliberations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the session, Parra stressed that while discussions on administrative matters and the restoration of statehood are critical, the immediate physical safety and dignity of Kashmiris—both within the Union Territory and across other Indian states—must not be sidelined.
The MLA outlined a multi-faceted concern, citing a “disturbing trend” of identity-based targeting. He highlighted recent incidents of hate crimes and physical assaults against Kashmiri students, traders, and laborers in states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. To press for an urgent legislative discussion on these attacks, Parra has formally moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly, arguing that such violence fosters an “atmosphere of fear and insecurity.”
Beyond street-level violence, Parra trained his focus on structural issues, criticizing what he termed “collective punishment.” He specifically pointed to the practice of “deep-vetting” and the issuance of “adverse police reports” for government jobs and passports, which he claims unjustly targets the relatives of former militants or protesters. He urged the Chief Minister to press the Home Ministry to end this “profiling.”
“The Chief Minister must use his mandate to seek a ‘healing touch’ policy from New Delhi,” Parra stated, advocating for a shift away from what he described as an “iron-fist approach” to one that restores the self-respect and trust of the youth.
In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has acknowledged the gravity of the concerns. His office pointed to his recent personal intervention following an assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller in Uttarakhand, where he spoke directly with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure swift arrests. Abdullah has publicly stated the contradiction in asserting Kashmir is an “inalienable part of India” while its citizens face fear elsewhere, and has previously urged the Home Ministry to sensitize other state governments.
The issue has forged a rare consensus in the often-divided J&K Assembly, with both the ruling National Conference and the opposition PDP uniting in their demand for decisive central action to safeguard Kashmiri citizens nationwide. The coming talks between CM Abdullah and Home Minister Shah are now being closely watched for a substantive response to these cross-party appeals.
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