Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 6: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today demanding immediate revocation of FIRs against Kashmiri students who were expelled from Meerut’s Swami Vivekanand Subharti University for cheering Pakistan cricket team’s victory over India in the ongoing Asia Cup.
PDP Chief Spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar told reporters the Uttar Pradesh Government and the University authorities should apologise to them and restore their admissions without any delay.
“It was unfortunate that these young boys have been condemned without listening to their side of story. After criminalising dissent, it seem we are headed for criminalising the expression of sportsman spirit as well, which is a scary development,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar said it is the right of an individual to cheer for the sports team or player he/she likes the most and the arbitrary action of the University authorities and of the UP Government against the Kashmiri students is totally unwarranted, unacceptable.
Castigating the UP Chief Minister, Akhlesh Yadav, whose party claims to be the champions of minorities in the country and local unit BJP in Meerut, for going too harsh against these boys, Akhtar said it seems both parties have joined hands to destroy their careers.
Akhtar criticized the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for his remarks in which he had conceded that these boys had ‘done wrong’ for cheering Pakistan. “Omar Abdullah has justified the action of varsity authorities against the students”.
“It is Omar Abdullah himself, who has actually been on the forefront to demonise the entire young population of Kashmir as stone pelters, drug addicts, anti-nationals, criminals for which they are paying heavy price both in and outside the State,” he said.
He said the Chief Minister is guilty of starting the trend of registering FIR at the drop of a hat against Kashmir youth on charges of sedition and waging war against the country and sending teenagers into prison under PSA.
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