Hamidpur: days after a video showing the harassment of two Kashmiri shawl sellers in Surjanpur village of Himachal Pradesh’s Hamidpur district went viral, the woman involved has formally apologised and admitted her mistake. The communal incident had sparked widespread condemnation online.
The woman, who identified herself as the wife of a local sarpanch, had told the duo to chant “Jai Shri Ram” or leave Himachal Pradesh, suggesting there was no place for Muslims or Kashmiris in the state and asking them to “go back to Kashmir.”
In her apology, she admitted, “I have committed a mistake, and I sincerely apologise for harassing them and making religious slurs.”
Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, who raised the issue with state authorities, told Free Press Kashmir that the Himachal Pradesh government promptly took note of the incident. He confirmed the woman had been detained and questioned for her communal behavior.
“She has expressed deep regret for her actions and issued a formal apology. Although the police were prepared to file an FIR, the victims, in a remarkable act of forgiveness, have chosen to pardon her and requested the police not to proceed with the case,” Khuehami said.
The woman had threatened the men, demanding they leave the state or chant “Jai Shri Ram,” while instructing others villagers – behind the camera- to boycott their business.
In the viral video, the woman can be heard saying, “We are Hindus, and we have our own Hindu community selling the same things. We should buy from them. Why would someone, especially Muslims, come from somewhere else and do business here? This is our India; you go to your Kashmir. We don’t need you here. I will request everyone not to purchase anything from you. Just leave from here.”
When one of the Muslim men responded, saying they are also Indians, the woman retorted, “If you are Indians, then chant Jai Shri Ram.” The man explained, “We are Muslims and cannot chant a Hindu slogan praising your deity. Religion is different, and nationality is different.”* The woman, however, insisted, saying, ”Either chant the slogan or leave the state.”
The traders had travelled to Himachal Pradesh to earn their livelihood, a common practice among Kashmiri shawl and dry fruit sellers working across India. This is not the first instance of harassment faced by Kashmiri traders outside the Valley, raising concerns about their safety and the rising trend of communal targeting.
On Monday, Khuehami, told FPK that he had requested the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and JK CM Omar Abdullah to take immediate and decisive action by directing the authorities to register a case against her under the relevant provisions of the law.
“Such behaviour must not go unchecked. Social harmony and communal unity must be upheld at all costs. Strict action in this matter will send a strong message that communal bigotry has no place in a progressive and inclusive society,” he said.
