Harassment of Kashmiris outside J&K flagged in Assembly

Growing cases of harassment and violence against Kashmiris residing outside Jammu and Kashmir reverberated in the J&K Assembly on Tuesday (February 3, 2026), with both the ruling National Conference (NC) and the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the Centre’s intervention into the matter. 

Raising the issue during the session, PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para said incidents of “hate crimes” against Kashmiri students and workers outside the Union Territory were on the rise. He moved an adjournment motion seeking an “urgent discussion on the safety of Kashmiris”.

‘Disturbing trend’

“Hate crimes, intimidation, and physical assaults faced by members of the Kashmiri community living outside the Union Territory are deeply disturbing. These incidents have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among families,” Mr. Parra said, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Union Home Minister to take concrete steps and send a strong message against identity-based discrimination.

Legislators of the ruling NC also staged a sit-in outside the Assembly, demanding restoration of Statehood, constitutional guarantees, and an end to the harassment of Kashmiris outside J&K. “Time is appropriate to restore J&K’s Statehood. We also seek the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Mr. Shah to end the harassment of Kashmiris outside the Union Territory. It has now become fashionable to target Kashmiris in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq said.  

He said the reports of a medical college being shut down allegedly due to the presence of Muslim students and repeated attacks on Kashmiris were “deeply concerning”. “Our protest is aimed at the Government of India. We want them to listen to our concerns,” Mr. Sadiq said.

Meanwhile, former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accused the NC of failing to raise the issue effectively. “First, it was young Tabish, who was nearly beaten to death in Uttarakhand. Now, an elderly Kashmiri is being harassed while the perpetrators roam free. Where are the MPs of J&K who should be raising their voices as such attacks become routine?” she said. “Instead of upholding Raj Dharma, State governments appear to be granting silent patronage to mob violence, treating hatred as a shortcut to political success. Politics of fear has replaced the rule of law,” Ms. Mufti said.