Amidst the brazen discrimination and systemic attacks against Kashmiris in many parts of the country in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, Sikh samaritans including gurudwaras, NGO Khalsa Aid have not only provided food and security, but have also arranged for safe travel back home for several Kashmiri students.
Following this, social media is flooded with videos and messages from Kashmiris expressing gratitude, in their own little ways, towards people from the Sikh community.
We Kashmiri people thanks you all from the core of heart Over 12 Vehicles Provided by Khalsa Aid are on the Way to Jammu, and Chandigarh from Dehradun Comprising near about 250 Kashmiri Students.Thanks team Khalsa_Aid
for your love and care for Kashmir students. pic.twitter.com/jXyude5JsD— All About Kashmir (@wakashmir) February 19, 2019
Kashmir Update, a page on Instagram, has shared messages by doctors who are offering free treatment to Sikhs; hotels offering free of cost stay in Srinagar; coaching institutes and individuals offering free tuitions for Sikh students; restaurants offering free meals among many more. Even the smallest of enterprises, including car repair shops and tailors, seem to have come up with discounts for the Sikh community..
A cartoon by Suhail Naqashbandi, aptly depicted the bonhomie displayed by Sikhs towards Kashmiries . The cartoon, published in Greater Kashmir, shows a Sikh man extending his hand from a boat to a drowning Kashmiri. According to Naqashbandi, “Sardar means leader and they lead by example. Hats off for being everywhere to help.”
Greater #Kashmir Cartoon Inside Out By @hailsuhail pic.twitter.com/CekZsMrvdp
— Greater Kashmir (@GreaterKashmir) February 20, 2019
Replying to a tweet by former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, “We stand by our Kashmiri boys and girls; they are as much Indian as anyone else. Punjab will ensure that their dignity is preserved. Our fight is only against the terrorists.”
Thank you @OmarAbdullah for your comment. We stand by our Kashmiri boys and girls; they are as much Indian as anyone else. Punjab will ensure that their dignity is preserved. Our fight is only against the terrorists. https://t.co/Dy6ojwlT6r
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 20, 2019
On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been silent even though dozens of incidents of violence against Kashmiris have been reported in the past week. Abdullah sought answers from the PM as he asked in a tweet, ‘Dear PM @narendramodi Sahib, can we please have a few words of condemnation for the systemic attacks directed against Kashmiri students & others or does your concern not extend as far north as Kashmir?”
Dear PM @narendramodi Sahib, can we please have a few words of condemnation for the systematic attacks directed against Kashmiri students & others or does your concern not extend as far north as Kashmir?
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 20, 2019
Also Read: Khalsa Aid, Gurudwaras Come to The Rescue of Kashmiri Students