Amidst the growing sentiments of strong retaliatory actions after the Pulwama terrorist attack, there have been many cases where common citizens have stood up to people who have echoed pro-Pakistan or anti-India sentiments.
Many people who had shared anti-India sentiments or expressed joy over the killing of India’s soldiers were brought to notice by vigilant citizens and social media users. However, as the secular-liberals in India often do, soon there was a media propaganda peddling a narrative that innocent Kashmiri students were being attacked by ‘Hindutva forces’.
The bluff was called out by law enforcement agencies and many alert social media users after it was proved that there has been no incident of targeted violence towards Kashmiri students and the action taken by a certain educational institution and business outlets were as a result of secessionist or anti-national sentiments displayed by the people concerned.
Amidst all this, as per a report by Times of India, some hotel owners in Agra have started an initiative of putting pamphlets that display that they are not going to allow Kashmiris for a stay in their respective establishments.
The report states that their initiative is in retaliation to Kashmiri locals being supportive of terrorists despite the brutal massacre of Indian soldiers.
Among others, one Rajjab Ali, a hotel owner in Agra was also quoted by the report saying “Our 46 jawans and officers have been killed in various terrorist activities post-February 14 in Kashmir, but still the locals support terrorists instead of paying homage to the slain soldiers. It needs to stop or we will not allow them into our hotels.” He has also added that the ban will continue till justice is served.
The Agra Hotel owners’ association, however, has clarified that they do not support such protests against Kashmiri people and Kashmiris are free to travel and stay.
The presence of Muslim hotel owners among those who have banned Kashmiris was noticed by many on social media. They pointed it out to highlight that the mainstream media propaganda of ‘Hindu nationalists’ targeting the Kashmiris is flawed as it was, in fact, patriotic Indians taking a stand against people who support terrorists and celebrate the killing of our soldiers.
Rehab Ali, manager of Kishan tourist lodge Agra has put a notice “Kashmiri not allowed”. and Liberandus are running an agenda that hindutva forces are behind torture of Kashmiris. ??♂️
cc @OmarAbdullah pic.twitter.com/3QcOwR7rQy— Shashank (@pokershash) February 22, 2019
Owner is Rajjab Ali, “No Kashmiri, please,’ Agra hotel owners put up notice | Agra News – Times of India
Stop blaming Hindus pls https://t.co/MMhaGlOdm7 https://t.co/p0CySn1bH5— ExSecular #IndiaWantsRevenge (@ExSecular) February 22, 2019
Earlier, many self-proclaimed ‘activists’ and journalists have tried to share the propaganda that Kashmiri students were being targeted by people after the Pulwama attack. However, these claims were all found to be false as there was not a single incidence of targeted violence against Kashmiris. Rather, it was people who showed solidarity with Pakistan or terrorists and shared anti-India sentiments who were being called out by patriotic Indians, irrespective of regionality and religion.
