 "People shout slogans during a protest against killing of Riyaz Ahmad shah, an ATM guard, in Srinagar on Wednesday Photo: PTI")
A day after local residents helped in rescuing a troop of soldiers stuck in an accident vehicle near Srinagar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, said, on Ocotber 10, there is need for the nation to acknowledge, promote and celebrate such acts of humanity in order to inculcate a sense of pride among the youth in Kashmir.
"We should celebrate such acts of humanity; acknowledge it and promote it, so that the youth of Kashmir feel proud for doing such acts of humanity. I think this is what 'Kashmiriyat' and 'Insaaniyat' is all about," Para told ANI.
"This is a small incident, where you can see that 'Kashmiriyat' is still alive in Kashmir and the spirit of 'insaaniyat' is there among youth, but we should celebrate it and should not take it as an insult," he said.
The PDP spokesperson, however, said that this was not the first incident where the Kashmiris have reached out for others. He insisted further that there have been many instances in the past in urban and rural areas of Kashmir, but they remain unreported.
"Here the national media should take responsibility. The Kashmiri people have spirit of 'Kashmiriyat' and 'insaaniyat', which is not reflected in the national media, which plays a very important role. If we have to bring Kashmiri people closer to the rest of the nation, only the national media can do this. When we take any initiative, the media don't support us," said Para.
"The image of the Kashmiri youth is that they are anti-national, anti-India elements and pro-violence. To correct that image, such incidents should be projected by the national media before the entire nation, which will bring people closer. We should celebrate such activities of humanity," the PDP leader added.
The truck, ferrying 12 soldiers, overturned in Lasjan near Srinagar. Local residents rushed to the spot and evacuated the army personnel by lining up a tipper near the truck.
"The Indian Army thanked the locals, who helped and rescued them, especially women," said army sources.
