Anger swept across the Valley after some Kashmiri students were allegedly thrashed and forced to shout anti-Pakistan slogans in a private university at Greater Noida in the wee hours on Sunday.
The incident sent shock waves across Jammu and Kashmir with chief minister Omar Abdullah blaming BJP's prime ministerial candidate for inflaming passions against Kashmir is in the country.
"Narendra Modi made a speech and tried to humiliate Kashmiris in the entire country as if we are communal people. Modi sahab, we are the people who kept the slogan of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh unity alive. We have held the flag of this country by choice and not by compulsion. Don't take it as our weakness," Omar warned while addressing a rally in Handwara.
Cautioning Modi against the fall-out of "anti-Kashmiri utterances", Omar said by forcing Kashmiris to shout slogans will not win their hearts. "You inflict wounds on our hearts and then rub salts on them.
It will not strengthen but weaken our relation with you (the country)," he said.
The incident has revived the ghost of Meerut when more than 67 Kashmiri students were booked for sedition for allegedly cheering Pakistani team during Indo-Pak cricket match in March.
"I want to tell the Universities that if you have admitted our students, then ensure their safety and security like we do", Omar said.
Chief minister also invoked the Hindu-Muslim bonhomie during Amarnath yatra to drive home a point about the communal harmony in Kashmir.
"You should learn from us. Lakhs of yatris come to Kashmir every year and we take them on our shoulders for performing pilgrimage. We ensure that they go back safely", he said.
Main opposition People's Democratic Party however blamed Omar for creating a negative image about Kashmiri youth by demonizing them as stone-pelters, drug addicts, anti-nationals and criminals.
"Omar Abdullah has created a stereotype image of Kashmiris He has no moral authority to speak on behalf of Kashmiri youth," said Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, PDP youth president.
Separatists too have joined the chorus and said Kashmiri students and traders are not safe outside the state. "Our students and traders are always the victim of communal forces in India. The security and safety of Kashmiris outside the state wrests with government of India", said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference.
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