Kashmiri leader Sajad Lone writes to Rahul Gandhi, questions selective concern over pellet victims

New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone has written an open letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, appreciating his recent efforts to secure an FIR for a pellet injury in Delhi while sharply questioning the absence of similar concern for Kashmiri victims of pellet firing over the years.

In the letter addressed to Gandhi, Lone expressed heartfelt appreciation for the Leader of the Opposition’s intervention that led to the registration of an FIR after a young protester allegedly sustained pellet injuries during a demonstration in the national capital.

“Thankfully the injury inflicted in Delhi was minor,” Lone noted. He then contrasted this with the far graver toll in Kashmir. Lone recalled that between 2016 and 2017, the then Jammu and Kashmir government reported 6,221 people injured by pellet firing, including 782 with eye injuries. Hundreds lost their eyesight permanently, and thousands suffered lifelong disabilities. Pellets were first used during the 2010 unrest, “resulting in dozens of blindings” and hundreds of severe injuries.

“My question is: Why was the same concern not shown for those Kashmiris who were blinded or grievously injured? Are Kashmiris less human than others in this country?” Lone asked. He urged Gandhi to visit Kashmir, speak about the issue, and even attempt to register an FIR to draw attention to the forgotten victims.

Lone pointed out that the National Conference and PDP, which were in alliance with national parties during the 2010 and 2016 pellet incidents and controlled the Home Department, have never issued an apology. Both parties are currently part of the INDIA bloc.

“Please do not attribute any motives. My hand on my heart, I really want you to do well,” he wrote, adding that the people of Kashmir deserve the same concern shown in Delhi.

Lone concluded by calling for equal application of the law, “The Kashmiris are not lesser human beings. Let law be the same for all. Let there be no space for selective justice and let us not allow our own people to be tyrannised.”

–IANS

sktr/uk