Kashmiri shawl sellers facing threats, harassment from right-wing groups: Mehbooba
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti has expressed serious concern over safety and wellbeing of Kashmiri shawl sellers who, according to her, are facing harassment, assault and threats from right-wing groups.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mehbooba Mufti in a post on X urged Chief Ministers of occupied Jammu and Kashmir OmarAbdullah and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhu Sukhvinder to intervene.
“Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district are facing harassment from right-wing groups. Despite proper documents, they’re being barred from doing business and evicted,” Mehbooba lemented.
“This is the third such incident, highlighting a worrying pattern of targeted violence,” she added.
Meanwhile, he Jammu and Kashmir civil society members expressed concern over the harassment, assault, and intimidation faced by dozens of Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district.
These traders, who have been working in the region for over 30 years, are reportedly being threatened and pressured to leave the state by certain right-wing groups, the association said.
In a statement, the civil society members, said that despite having proper verification and documentation, these shawl sellers are being barred from conducting their business, while their landlords are being pressured to evict them. They urged Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to intervene urgently.
