Punjab Shines a Light, Embraces Fleeing Kashmiri Students

By Dilip -
CHANDIGARH: People in Punjab have come forward to help the Kashmiri students being hounded by the right wing Hindutva organizations in the neighbouring states of Uttarakhand and Haryana in the wake of the Pulwama attack that killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. They have not only come out offering boarding and lodging to the distressed students but have been co-ordinating with the administration for the safe passage of these students to their homes in Jammu and Kashmir, while sponsoring their transport.
Ramachandra Guha: Why attack young Kashmiris for a crime committed by someone else?
Sikh volunteers reach Bangladesh-Myanmar border to provide langar to refugees / Dalai Lama: Buddha Would Have Helped Rohingya

The general sentiment in Punjab is against the passions being whipped up by the right wing targeting Kashmiris. The growing belief is that all this is being done keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls and divert attention from the real issues. Social organization Khalsa Aid and others have joined hands with bodies like Jammu Kashmir Students Organization (JKSO) to help these distressed students. Khalsa Aid has been making headlines across the globe for helping those in need whether it is in Syria, Bangladesh and other countries.

Till Tuesday, they had managed to send more than 700 children safely to Jammu from where the local administration has taken over the travel and other arrangements till they reach their respective districts and villages. Majority of these students are from Dehradun , a city known for its educational institutions that has emerged as the pivot of the current display of bigotry by the mobs or pedalling the tutored brand of patriotism and nationalism.

JKSO spokesperson Nasir Khuehani told this reporter from Srinagar, “When the attacks started on the students there was a lot of anxiety among the parents who somehow wanted their wards to be home to safety. It was at that point that we started making plans to help those in distress and Khalsa Aid joined hands with us. Khalsa Aid has arranged the transportation of children from Dehradun by buses and taxis to Mohali and Landran near Chandigarh where the students have been staying at Gurudwaras. From there also Khalsa Aid has arranged the transport to Jammu and the Punjab administration has come forward to provide safe passage. Our local leaders Salman Nizami and Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami have also come forward to help these children.”.. read more:
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/16316/Punjab-Shines-a-Light-Embraces-Kashmiri-Students-Fleeing-Right-Wing-Mobs

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