Politicians in Kashmir have reacted strongly to J&K Police registering FIR’s and booking students under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) after they celebrated Pakistan’s win over India in the T20 World Cup.
The students have also been charged under Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
‘Volcano Building Up’: Farooq Abdullah
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said that these celebrations were meant to provoke BJP and had nothing to do with Pakistan.
“They (the BJP) took away Article 370 and Article 35A from us,” Abdullah said at a meeting of party workers in Poonch. “A volcano is building up even as they think they have silenced (the people).”
He further warned: “This volcano will erupt one day and god knows what will be its shape and size. They have to return Article 370 to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Punitive Actions Won’t Help: Sajad Lone
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone said punitive actions against the Kashmiri youth will not help as they have not helped in the past as well.
Referring to the registration of two FIRs against the medical students in the valley Lone said he “does not see anti-Indianism or pro-Pakistanism as an irreversible condition”.
“I strongly disagree. If you think that they r not patriotic enough because they cheered for another team- u should have the courage and the belief to wean them back if u think they have gone patriotically astray. Punitive actions won’t help. Have not helped in the past either,” Lone said on Twitter.
Further Alienation of Kashmiris: Mehbooba Mufti
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accused the Centre of resorting to “vindictive” action against Kashmir students that will “alienate them further”.
“HMs (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) ‘Mann ki baat’ with Kashmiri youth started with slapping UAPA against medical students for celebrating Pakistan’s win. Instead of trying to ascertain why educated youth choose to identify with Pakistan, GOI resorting to vindictive actions. Such steps will alienate them further,” the former chief minister had tweeted.
FIR “unwarranted, unnecessary”: Ghulam Nabi Malik
CPI (M) secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik termed the FIR as “unwarranted, unnecessary” and demanded immediate rollback of the charges against the students.
He said there are such examples where Indian fans gave standing ovation to Pakistan cricket team after its victory and same things happened with Pakistani crowds cheering up for the India team.
In 1999, Chennai crowd gave a standing ovation to victorious Pakistan side.
The crowd applauded the fact that Pakistan on that day was the better of the two sides.
The Pakistani team reciprocated in kind to the crowd’s gesture, taking a victory lap around the ground.
Nobody become anti-national if he supports one team or the other, he said.