Will prioritise Kashmiri students’ safety ‘outside valley’, says Waheed Parra

Srinagar, Apr 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Youth President and parliamentary candidate for the Srinagar constituency, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra on Tuesday said he would create mechanisms for Kashmiri students studying across the country who face harassment on a daily basis and would address their issues if voted to power.
Parra pledged unwavering support for the welfare of Kashmiri students studying across the country, promising to address the increasing harassment they have endured in recent years. He expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Kashmiri students if elected.
“There is an urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard the well-being of Kashmiri students across the country,” he said. He vowed to champion their cause and work tirelessly to create a conducive environment where they can pursue their education without fear or intimidation.
“I would create mechanisms with different state governments, law enforcement agencies, and civil societies to address the issues of Kashmiri students so that they feel secure, safe, and protected,” he said.
Waheed said that for the past five years, there have been three MPs from Kashmir who hold power, privilege and funds and have direct access to State and Central governments. “However, they turned a deaf ear when approached by students. Instead, students had to approach MPs from Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra to redress issues, and harassment, and raise their issues in parliament,” he said.
In outlining his vision for Kashmiri students’ welfare, Parra outlined several key initiatives he plans to pursue if elected to power. These include establishing dedicated support mechanisms to address cases of harassment and discrimination, advocating for the implementation of robust policies to protect the rights of Kashmiri students, and fostering dialogue and collaboration between student communities to promote understanding.
“The biggest challenge for our students who are pursuing their studies outside the valley is that they are being looked upon differently because of their Kashmiri identity. I will vouch for an eradication of this identity crisis of our students,” he added.
Parra asserted, “It’s time for real representation, not spectral spectacles. Kashmiri students should vote wisely, they must vote for those who are determined to serve Kashmiris better, rather than those who are driven by the avarice of power. I promise Kashmiris to never let them down and will stand wherever they need me, if elected and voted to power.”
Waheed pointed out the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti’s stand and commitment regarding Kashmiri students, saying, “She has been standing firm and raising Kashmiri issues from Kashmir to Delhi. If anybody has spoken vigorously in the past 5 years, it was only Mehbooba, be it on UAPA or harassment of students in Punjab, UP, or Karnataka.”