Srinagar, Feb 6, KDC: Jammu and Kashmir legislator Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against youths in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly expressing solidarity with Palestine.
In his letter, a copy of which is in the possession of news agency Kashmir Dot Com, Mehdi said the FIRs were reportedly registered against young individuals for acts such as holding Palestinian flags, which he described as peaceful expressions without violence or intent to disturb public order. He argued that such actions were in line with India’s long-standing diplomatic and humanitarian position on Palestine, reiterated through official engagements, including the recent India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting and the Delhi Declaration.
The legislator expressed concern that initiating criminal proceedings for peaceful expression could foster alienation among the youth and undermine democratic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. He stressed that at a time when confidence-building and constructive engagement with young people in Jammu and Kashmir are crucial, such measures may convey a sense of inconsistency and injustice.
Mehdi appealed to the Home Minister to review the matter with “compassion and constitutional foresight” and to direct the withdrawal of the FIRs. He said such a step would reassure the youth, uphold democratic values, and reinforce faith in the rule of law.
The letter concludes with an expression of hope that leadership and wisdom would prevail to ensure that justice, empathy, and constitutional propriety guide collective action. (KDC)
