The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday alleged that Kashmiri students across several northern states are facing profiling, eviction, and intimidation in the aftermath of the Red Fort blast in Delhi. The Association urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and issue a public reassurance to prevent further stigmatization.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India, JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said that “a particular community is being targeted after the attack,” adding that Kashmiri students are being harassed in universities and residential colonies in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
Khuehami said Kashmiri students believe in India’s democracy and mainstream values and reject terrorism in all forms. “Yet, they are being profiled and vilified by authorities and local residents. Many landlords have asked Kashmiri tenants to vacate their rooms, forcing several students to return home out of fear,” he said.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the Delhi blast, Khuehami said the tragedy has shaken the entire nation. “We strongly and unequivocally condemn this barbaric act of terror. Our condolences go to the bereaved families. Their pain is our pain; their grief is the nation’s grief,” he stated, adding that the shock has reverberated across homes in Jammu & Kashmir.
He reaffirmed that Kashmiri students have consistently rejected separatism, secessionism, radicalisation, and all divisive ideologies. “We have never condoned violence. Our commitment to peace, national integrity, and harmonious coexistence is unwavering,” he said.
Highlighting Kashmiris’ contributions to nation-building, Khuehami noted that families from the region have made immense sacrifices. “Our people have protected the country on the borders and given their blood for India’s sovereignty. Generations of Kashmiris have endured hardships with dignity, believing in a future rooted in India’s unity and progress.”
He added that Kashmiris have travelled widely across India and have been treated with warmth and respect. “We have never felt discriminated against because of our identity. Some of us have lost family members to terrorism, which only strengthens our resolve against violence.”
Khuehami said the Association is fully willing to cooperate with authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. “Anyone involved in this heinous act is neither a friend of Kashmir nor of any religious community. Terror has no religion, no region, no identity,” he said.
He emphasized that every Kashmiri is an Indian, unconditionally, and strongly opposed the harassment, profiling, intimidation, prejudice, and bigotry faced by many Kashmiri students since the blast. “Kashmiri students contribute to India through universities, hospitals, laboratories, institutions, and start-ups. They deserve safety, dignity and assurance that their identity will not be criminalised.”
Khuehami said law-enforcement agencies must investigate freely, but innocent Kashmiris must not bear the burden of suspicion. “Collective blame does not strengthen national security; unity, trust, fairness and justice do. We have full faith in national institutions. Investigations must proceed with balance and impartiality.”
He noted that fear and anxiety among Kashmiri students have grown. “Reports of profiling, harassment, aggressive questioning, and verification drives—even in institutions unrelated to the case—have deeply unsettled them. Many left campuses abruptly, disrupting studies and examinations.”
Khuehami said the JKSA has written to the Prime Minister, stressing that his voice carries immense influence. “If the Prime Minister appeals to the nation to treat Kashmiris fairly and equally, it will have a transformative impact. His words can calm tensions, dispel misconceptions, and restore trust at the grassroots.”
He added that a clear public reassurance from the Prime Minister would strengthen national unity and ensure Kashmiri students continue contributing meaningfully to India’s development. “A message of equality and reassurance can help build a more inclusive and harmonious India—an India where every Kashmiri feels valued, safe and integral to the nation’s future.”
The Association said Kashmiri students must be assured that they are equal citizens of India, protected by the same constitutional rights and dignity as everyone else. Families must feel confident about the safety of children studying far from home. It called for humane communication, confidence-building measures, and clear instructions to educational institutions and law-enforcement agencies to restore calm.
Khuehami noted that while the official response has been measured, the public reaction—especially online—has been disturbing. “Within hours of the blast, social media was flooded with insinuations against Muslims, particularly Kashmiri youth. WhatsApp groups turned into informal investigation panels, recycling old prejudices. Kashmiris are suddenly viewed as latent threats, expected to prove loyalty repeatedly.”
He warned that such collective suspicion is unjust and dangerous. “A society that normalises the othering of minorities walks a perilous path. Communal profiling strengthens neither national security nor national unity.”
Khuehami stressed that a strong statement from the Prime Minister is essential to acknowledge students’ anxieties, discourage the spread of unverified rumours, and reaffirm constitutional protections. He urged the Government to coordinate with universities and local administrations to ensure the safety of Kashmiris nationwide and take strict action against those attempting to create communal discord.
