Several political parties, leaders as well as social organizations on Monday condemned “hate speeches” that were delivered in a seminar in Jammu on Sunday.
Senior leader of CPI (M) and MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami, condemned what he termed as “highly provocative” speeches of some speakers in Jammu during a seminar alleging that “growth of colonies of a miniority community in and around Jammu was a concerted effort to change its demography.”
In a statement here, Tarigami said, “Unity in diversity is the strength of India and as well as Jammu and Kashmir. There are many languages, castes and ethnic groups and this is the specialty of the country and the state. Any attempts to divide people of Jammu and Kashmir on any name or at any level is against the interests of people of the state and the country.”
“The state has off and on faced many difficult situations owing to militancy sponsored from across the border, which has caused disturbance in the state. However, the people of the state have preserved its unity and its secular character despite the heterogeneous ethnic, linguistic and demographic character of the state,” he added.
“Jammu, is a pluralistic society and during difficult and odd times people of the region have maintained communal harmony and brotherhood. I am sure the people of Jammu, who have always rejected these fringe elements, who try to create wedge between the communities, will this time also make their efforts unsuccessful,” Tarigami said.
Senior National Conference leader and MLA MendharJavedRana appealed to the Governor S P Malik to order a probe into how a “conference on communal lines” was allowed to be organized in Jammu.
“It is unfortunate and condemnable that a conference was held in Jammu, in which a particular community was targeted. It was a open invitation to divide the society on lines of religion and region,” he said.
“The speakers tried to spread venom against the people of the state. It is all means to gain political mileage by creating fear among the people,” he said, adding, “Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir regions are part of one state. There may be different aspirations, but we are not against each other on communal lines.” He asserted that the people of Jammu welcomed displaced people and refugees during tough times and now a situation is being created to “divide the society on communal lines.”
Jammu Muslim Front (JMF) strongly denounced the “hate speeches against particular community, terming it as an attempt to “fan communal tension.” In a statement, Jammu Muslim Front leaders, including chairmanShujaZaffar and president Qazi Imran, expressed concern over the issue.
“These hate mongers are trying to pollute the peace of Jammu by indulging in such activities,” they claimed. The leaders demanded stern action against the speakers and organizers and appealed to the Governor to order and inquiry.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Rajouri spokesman Tazeem Dar termed the statements issued during the seminar as “highly provocative and an attempt to soil the peace of Jammu region.”