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Kashmiris Should Protect Non-Kashmir Laborers: India's Main Opposition

By Fayaz Wani

Terming the call of "Quit Kashmir" to the non-Kashmiri laborers and artisans as "unfortunate", India's largest opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today called on people of Kashmir to protect the lives of non-local laborers.

Addressing media here today, senior BJP leader and former India's aviation minister, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said that the non-Kashmiri laborers and artisans are coming to Kashmir to help the people of Valley in developmental work.

"Every year thousands of non-Kashmiri laborers and artisans come to Kashmir to help the local population in their development. They work as laborers and artisans in various developmental work in Kashmir", he said, adding, "They don't come to Kashmir with any hidden agenda".

It is pertinent to mention here that after police found two non-Kashmiri laborers involved in the abduction, rape and murder of a teenage girl in North Kashmir, the separatists, militant groups and people from North Kashmir asked the non-Kashmiri laborers to leave Kashmir.

Thousands of non-Kashmiris have left Kashmir during past one week and hundreds continue to leave for their respective places each day. Even today, hundreds of non-Kashmiris left the Valley.

The BJP leader said, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir should provide security to the non-Kashmiri laborers and artisans."They should protect them as they are having moral and religious responsibility in this regard", Shahnawaz said.

He said that he was sent by the BJP top leadership to Valley appeal people here to protect the lives and property of the non-state Kashmiri laborers and artisans. "We are here not to appeal any leader but the people of Kashmir for their protection. Although I met the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, but the real powers lies in the hands of people and they should protect the lives of non-Kashmiris," he added.

A three-member team of India's main opposition party led by Shahnawaz arrived here today to take up the matter of security of non-Kashmiri laborers with state government.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.