Anantnag :Peoples Democratic Party President on Monday urged the Union Home Minister to start seeing Kashmiris as normal citizens rather than Over Ground Workers (OGW).
“I appeal to the Home Minister: Kashmiris have taken steps against terrorism—please take one step forward and start seeing Kashmiris as normal citizens,” said Mufti.
She was addressing the media persons after interacting with tourists in South Kashmir resort of Pahalgam where twenty-five tourists and a local pony operator were killed in a deadly attack on April 22.
“I also request the Lieutenant Governor that Kashmiris shouldn’t be killed by labeling them as OGWs without any proof,” Mehbooba said while referring to the mysterious killing of two youth in Bandipora and Kulgam on the charges of being OGWs.
Condemning the arbitrary detentions of youth in Kashmir, she said hundreds of people are being detained, which is not right.
“Pahalgam is known for its spirit of brotherhood. Even when terrorism was at its peak, the people here upheld harmony, especially during the Amarnath Yatra,” Mehbooba said.
She said these people have faced both the Army with weapons and terrorists with weapons. “The recent terror attack has come as a huge shock for the people of Pahalgam, who witnessed it with their own eyes”.
She urged the government to acknowledge the efforts of locals and not to harrass them.
“They (locals) did everything they could to save the lives of the injured tourists. They even donated blood to help. I am being told that despite their efforts, locals are being questioned and detained at police stations”, she said.
“I appeal to the Home Minister—these people have shown compassion, they contributed to rescue efforts, and they were part of the evacuation process. They should be acknowledged, not harassed”.
Mehbooba asked the government to secure the tourist places so that they (tourists) keep coming.
“Tourists coming to Pahalgam are finding everything shut. If that is the case, then the government should openly tell them that tourists are not welcome in Kashmir,”she said.
“When the government has deployed such large numbers of security forces, why can’t it secure tourist places effectively? She asked.