Our Bureau
Srinagar
In an amazing show of solidarity and unity, the youth of Kashmir have broken the silence of fear prevailing in the valley since the terror attack on Pahalgam on April 22. Driving through the empty roads of Pahalgam, a group of young men from Srinagar drove in a convoy of luxury cars, each car carrying bold stickers with the message “United Against Terror.”
This was a heartfelt move to reclaim Kashmir’s glory as a tourist destination and maintain the dignity of the valley, grappling through a time of economic instability.
“What happened here was truly unfortunate. That’s why we came here, we don’t represent any foundation or organisation, we’re just a group of friends. We came to raise awareness and express our deep sorrow over what happened in Kashmir. We want people to continue trusting this place. It may take some time, but everyone needs to support one another,” said Imtiyaz while expressing the need for a public gesture to restore normalcy in the town.
He also highlighted that it was their individual contribution to spread awareness in the aftermath of the bloodshed, “Everyone has their own way; some are athletes, while others have different platforms. We wanted to use ours to spread awareness. Cars are something with which we feel a deep connection. What we did was entirely within the law. We’re car enthusiasts, and the people who’ve visited here will come again because they know we’ll always welcome them.”
Another participant of the rally shared his concerns about the dignity of his community being questioned after the terror attack that shook the nation. Kabir said it was imperative to send a message through social media that all Kashmiris are not terrorists and are not responsible for the tense scenario gripping the nation. Asking to give Kashmir another chance, he further said, “We’ll post reels of our cars and share photos to show that we are in Kashmir, specifically in Pahalgam. Everything is normal. We came in luxury cars, and no one troubled us. No one is bothering anyone.”
While talking about the sanctity of all religions, Zuhaib Khan said that neither Islam nor Hinduism permits what happened. Khan further said that they all were equally shaken by the gruesome incident and “deeply saddened by the tragedy that has befallen them.”
