National Conference (NC) today condemned the reported harassment of students and tenants from Jammu and Kashmir in Punjab, sayingthe incident is a reminder of how people from the state were facing the "brunt of ethnic and communal profiling and targeted assaults in the country".
"NC condemns the harassment of students and tenants from J-K in Mohali. The incident is a reminder of how residents from the state were facing the brunt of ethnic and communal profiling and targeted assaults in the country," party spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu said here.
He said the Centre is duty-bound to act and stop such incidents from taking place.
"This is becoming an alarming trend. Our students are now suddenly very apprehensive about venturing out for their studies. Businessmen have concerns about their establishments outside the state and Kashmiri tenants are facing discrimination.
"The central government will have to do more than a police advisory and understand that such polarization and communal violence could be a result of a failure to prosecute hate-mongers and divisive elements that continue to spew venom against the very principles of our Constitution," he said.
The NC spokesperson urged the Punjab government to arrest those involved in the incident without any delay and with zero tolerance for communal violence of any sort.
"We hope the culprits are apprehended and more importantly a sense of security is restored among those who were at the receiving end of this harassment. We are in touch with students from J-K who have been harassed and unfairly targeted at various universities in different states and have assured them of our support," Mattu said.
He said a continued silence and a reluctance to reassure students from the state has resulted in an atmosphere of apprehensiveness both within the state and among students studying outside, the spokesperson said.
According to reports, three J-K students were allegedly abused and beaten up in Mohali district of Punjab on the night of March 15 after being labelled as "militants".
