In an emotionally charged address during a special session of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly today, MLA Handwara and Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone reflected on the region’s ongoing struggles with violence and its journey toward reconciliation.
Lone traced the origins of the three and a half decade long conflict, noting that, at one point, violence had gained what he termed “social sanctity.”
“For the last 35 years, without resorting to politics, there was some degree of acceptance of violence in society. I call it a social sanctity of violence,” he said, acknowledging that while the mentality has diminished, it has not disappeared entirely.
He highlighted recent public marches as a symbol of this shift, where violence is now socially stigmatized. “This is the beginning of the end, not the end itself,” he emphasized.
He urged that the efforts to sustain this transformation must be maintained, stressing that the actions of law enforcement should focus on ensuring the protection of innocent lives while pursuing terrorists and criminals. “The biggest challenge is to ensure that innocent lives are not affected during the pursuit of violence perpetrators,” he said.
Lone underscored that law enforcement alone cannot reshape the public sentiment; it is the responsibility of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to reject violence and promote peace.
Drawing inspiration from late Syed Adil Shah, he called on citizens to uplift those who advocate for peace. “Police and the army can only contain violence; it is the people of J&K who can defeat it,” he asserted.
Lone also called for greater efforts to prevent the stereotyping of Kashmiris. “We must ensure that the people of Kashmir do not feel their identities are being generalized,” he said, condemning the rising harassment of Kashmiri students and businessmen outside the region.
He also appealed to state leadership and the media to adopt a more responsible approach in addressing these issues. “Some media outlets have acted irresponsibly, exacerbating the challenges faced by our innocent students,” he warned.
Lone suggested that the Chief Minister consider sending a low-profile, all-party delegation to other states to address misconceptions and challenge the negative perception that terrorism is inherent in the region’s identity.
Addressing the plight of victims’ families, Lone expressed his belief that the J&K government should act as a guardian for these families, offering continued economic support to ensure that the victims’ dependents—such as a young daughter’s dream of becoming a doctor—are not shattered by the loss of their loved ones.
He poignantly stated, “Many members in this house have seen death due to violence at close quarters. At least four of us here have lost fathers to violence. The most painful feeling that endures is the sense of helplessness, and we can all empathize with this shared loss.”
Moreover, Lone called for the inclusion of the names of victims in the official resolution, stating, “Without names, it is just a statistic.”
