NC says BJP’s ‘politics of hatred’ haunts its own after J&K spokesman denied hotel stay

A day after BJP’s media in-charge in J&K, Sajid Yousuf Shah, alleged that he was denied accommodation at a hotel in Maharashtra’ s Aurangabad because of his Kashmiri identity, the ruling National Conference said the “politics of hatred” propagated by the BJP had now “come back to haunt one of its own.”

In a post on X on Sunday, Shah said he had checked into a hotel in Aurangabad but was later asked to leave “because of concerns linked to my Kashmiri identity.”

“Today, I experienced something that left me deeply saddened,” Shah wrote, adding that the hotel owner was “courteous and candid” and admitted that the decision was “unfair and hurtful” but claimed he was acting on instructions.

Shah said he chose to share the incident not to seek sympathy but to highlight the continuing stereotypes faced by Kashmiris across the country.

“For decades, countless Kashmiris have worked to strengthen the bonds between Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India. Most Indians have welcomed us with warmth and respect. Yet incidents like this show that stereotypes and apprehensions persist,” he said. “My faith in India and its people remains unshaken. I hope we continue moving toward a future where no citizen is judged by their region, faith, or identity, but by their character and conduct. That is the India we must strive for.”

In another post, Shah said the issue was larger than his personal experience and questioned whether ordinary Kashmiris travelling outside the union Territory should be made to feel unwelcome because of their identity.

NC spokesman Imran Dar said the incident reflected the consequences of the “politics of hatred” allegedly propagated by the BJP.

“Getting a taste of their own medicine. The politics of hatred that the @BJP4India propagates across the country has now come back to haunt one of its own,” Dar said on X.

” A man who was nurtured and raised within the @RSSorg ecosystem in Kashmir faces the heat of BJPs anti Muslim program. For them, being a Muslim was reason enough to cast him aside. No amount of loyalty or bootlicking can shield a Muslim from being judged by the same yardstick.”

The NC also reacted through its official X handle, saying the BJP could not “keep talking about how Kashmiri Muslims can’t be trusted” and then express surprise over such incidents.

“This is what happens when the party he belongs to spreads nothing but hatred about Kashmiris, especially young men. BJP can’t keep talking about how Kashmiri Muslims can’t be trusted & how they are all radicalised and not expect this to happen. Now you know what regular Kashmiri students & patients go through,” NC said.

Congress leader Salman Soz on Sunday urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and ensure Kashmiris are not made to feel unwelcome in the state.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) national spokesperson Anish Gawande described the incident as “incredibly unfortunate” and said Maharashtra was built on the ideals of “Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar.”

“I am sorry that you, as a guest in our state, were treated this way,” he wrote while urging the Maharashtra government to intervene.