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Sikhs helping terrified Kashmiris in outside cities win hearts of Muslims in valley
ESS AHMAD. Dated: 2/22/2019 6:18:41 PM
Docs, tutors, traders extend free services to Sikhs
SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Humbled by the bravery and help from members of Sikh community to Kashmiris facing assaults and threats outside Kashmir, following the killing of 49 CRPF men in suicide bombing in southern Pulwama district on February 14, Kashmiri Muslims have been extending love and various offers to the Sikhs living in valley.
The offers announced by the Kashmiri Muslims from various walks of life include free consultations at private clinics, free tuition at coaching centers for Sikh students and special discount or no profit on medicines and other items.
Dr Showkat Shifa Shaida, a famous paediatrician from Anantnag was the first to offer free consultation to Sikh community as token of love.
"For their gesture of generosity and humanhood, I will be consulting at my private clinics all the children from Sikh community from within the state or outside for free till December 31 2019. We will never forget what you have done for us in the hour of distress and need," Dr Shaida wrote on his Facebook wall.
Taking cue from Dr Shaida, another doctor, a famous radiologist and general secretary of Doctors Association Kashmir, Dr Owais Hassan Dar also took to Facebook and announced 50 percent discount on various diagnosis for Sikh patients at his clinic for their generosity and courage. Dr Owais, however, did not mention the period of discount.
"50 percent discount on USGs and other Doppler studies at Friends USG center Janglatmandi for courageous and generous Sikh brethren," Dr Owais wrote on Facebook.
The offers to the Sikh community started coming days after the Khalsa Aid Charitable Trust, Gurduwara committees and other Sikh groups in Jammu and many other parts of India came to the rescue of Kashmiri students and traders facing harassment and threats by right wing Hindu groups following the suicide bombing on a CRPF convoy that left 49 CRPF troopers dead and many other wounded. Sikhs, according to various reports, not only provided the fleeing Kashmiri students and traders with shelter and food for days but also helped them reach Jammu. Many Kashmiri students were either rusticated or suspended from their universities and colleges for allegedly posting objectionable posts on Facebook and Whatsapp over the attack.
In Jammu city, mobs set ablaze many vehicles of Kashmiri Muslims a day after the attack took place.
Besides doctors, various coaching centers also offered free coaching to the students belonging to Sikh community.
Two reputed coaching centers, Usmania Coaching Center and Bright Future Institute (FBI), taking to social media announced free coaching for Sikh community students for all streams including medical, non-medical, Arts and Commerce.
Traders from various areas of the valley as a thanks giving gesture also offered their products to Sikhs either on huge discounts or without any profit making.
J&K tillers from Bijbehara, dealing in Agriculture and Horticulture equipments announced a lifetime offer of 'no profit' for Sikh community.
"Dear Sikh community, we are heavily indebted to you. It is not possible to repay you all but here I am doing my bit to give you all agriculture and horticulture related equipments without any profit making. Offer is valid till my last breath," Bhat Ashiq Aziz, owner of JK Tillers, wrote on Facebook.