Attacks on Kashmir shawl sellers: Farooq Abdullah says ‘some people want to introduce Hitler’s system’

National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah

In response to a spate of attacks on Kashmiri shawl sellers in different parts of the country over the past few weeks, National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah has said some people want to “introduce Hitler’s system in India”.

Abdullah was speaking to reporters at Nawa-i-Subh, the National Conference’s party headquarters in Srinagar.

“This is our fate,” Abdullah said of the attacks. “There are some people who have entirely different motives. They follow the path of Hitler and want to introduce Hitler’s system here.”

He simultaneously expressed hope that this mindset wouldn’t last long. “Hitler disappeared. The time will come when this extremism, too, will end.”

As winters approach, a large number of Kashmiris move to different parts of the country, selling shawls and other handicrafts door-to-door.

Last week, one such shawl vendor was assaulted by a group allegedly associated with a right-wing outfit in Uttarakhand’s Kashipur. The incident came to light after a man named Ankur Singh posted a video on his Instagram page showing him beating up Bilal Ganie of Kupwara while asking him to chant “Bharat Mata ki jai”.

“The police have identified the men seen in the viral video and taken them into custody. A fair and thorough investigation is being conducted, and strict legal action against the guilty will be ensured,” said a communication from the SSP’s office afterwards.

Incidents also came to light from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. In both, the police said FIRs had been registered.

Abdullah also spoke about Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Bangladesh to attend the funeral of the country’s former PM Khaleda Zia. “We are happy that our foreign minister has gone there and participated in (the funeral),” he said. “Bangladesh is our old friend, and we have to strengthen this friendship.”

Wishing people on New Year, Abdullah said he hopes there is “friendship with the neighbours” and an “end to our sufferings”.