Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti seeks Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister’s intervention in the matter
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Around two dozen shawl sellers from Jammu and Kashmir are reportedly harassed by local Hindutva groups and denied permission to do business in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. The poor vendors were also asked to leave the area and to go back to Kashmir.
The helpless shawl sellers are now stationed at one place since their merchandise is seized if they move around to reach potential customers.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti asked Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh to intervene in the matter and to ensure protection of shawl sellers from Kashmir.
Mufti took social media to draw the attention of Singh and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah towards the atrocities these vendors have faced at the hand of local people in Bilaspur. People’s Democratic Party’s chief asked Singh to ensure the safe environment for these traders.
“Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur District are facing harassment, assault, and threats from right-wing groups. Despite proper documents, they’re being barred from doing business and evicted. This is the third such incident, highlighting a worrying pattern of targeted violence. This othering of Kashmiris will alienate them further,” Mufti said.
In the video that went viral on social media, a Kashmiri vendor said, “We are sitting here for 3-4 days. We are being harassed. When we go to bus-stand to sell our merchandise, it is being seized. We are not being allowed to do trading. We are asked to go away from the area and go back to Kashmir to do business.”
The vendor further said that they ( shawl sellers) told those local people that they are also Indian and can sell their commodities there. However, the locals are not ready to allow these vendors even though they have verification and other necessary documents from the local authorities.
“Yet, they are threatening us. They are calling our landlords to ask them to throw us out from their houses. All these vendors have been selling their commodities for 25,30 and 40 years,” said the vendor.
Another vendor said that local shopkeepers have no issues with them. However, some people insist to throw them out.
In the video, there is a large number of vendors who all are vendors in Bilaspur.
According to reports, the incident is related to Ghumarwin town of Bilaspur. The vendors had gone to the SDM of Ghumarwin with the complaint. The SDM had sent the complaint to the local police station.
Bilaspur SP Sandeep Dhawal called it a dispute between the local traders and Kashimiri vendors and informed that the police have received a complaint in this regard.
According to Dhawal, such incidents were reported even last year. Some shopkeepers claimed that they are facing loss due to the vendors. There is no report of assault so far.
The SP asked the DC office to mediate the dispute between two groups. A meeting is expected to be held between both groups in the coming 2 or 3 days.
Meanwhile, Nasir Khuehami, national convener of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, expressed concerns over such incidents against Kashmiris.
“Sad that, They want Kashmir, but not Kashmiri people — Nothing will do more damage to the idea of India in Kashmir than incidents like these. Harassing and threatening Kashmiris on a daily basis like this, while simultaneously trying to sell the idea of ‘atoot ang’ simply won’t resonate. Genuine integration comes from respect, dignity and empathy, not intimidation, threats or force,” he said.
Khuehami pointed out that these shawl sellers, who have contributed immensely to the local economy and become part of the social fabric, are now facing intimidation and insecurity. This reflects a dangerous pattern of targeting Kashmiri shawl sellers on a daily basis, as this is the third such incident in the state. Targeted violence against Kashmiris shows no signs of ending!
