'Boycott Kashmir and Kashmiri,' Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy's new tactic to resolve J&K issue
After the deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama which killed more than 40 CRPF soldiers, Meghalaya Governor has come up with a new solution for the Jammu and Kashmir issue wherein he has said that ‘boycott Kashmir and Kashmiri’s.’
The remarks have come at a time when the Kashmiris are being hounded across India including Dehradun, Jodhpur, Ambala, Panchkula, Delhi, Patna, West Bengal among others by the Hindutva groups, namely VHP, Bajrang Dal, ABVP.
Governor Tathagata Roy, in a tweet said, “An appeal from a retired Colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir, don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree.”
An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir,don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri.
— Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) February 19, 2019
I am inclined to agree
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism by Jammu and Kashmir leaders including PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference supremo Omar Abdullah.
Abdullah said, “People like Tathagata want Kashmir but without Kashmiris. They’d sooner see us driven into the sea. He’ll be best placed to know he can’t have one without the other so what’s it to be?”
Mehbooba Mufti demanded Governor to be sacked for spreading such feelings. She said, “Deplorable statement coming from the Governor of Meghalaya. GoI must sack him immediately. If they fail to do so, it means he has their tacit approval and are using it as an election ploy to polarise the situation.”
Governor Roy said that it’s a “new method” to tackle the Jammu and Kashmir issue and this comes at a time when leaving a single vacuum in the state can be dangerous.
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First published: 20 February 2019, 13:03 IST