Farooq Slams Attacks on Kashmiri Shawl Traders as India’s ‘Hitlerian’ Intolerance Targets Kashmiris Across India

The recent statements by Farooq Abdullah, condemning repeated attacks on Kashmiri shawl traders in different Indian cities, once again expose a deep and ugly reality of present-day India, where hatred against Kashmiris and Muslims is no longer hidden but openly encouraged under a hard-line Hindutva mindset. These attacks are not random incidents but part of a wider, organised climate of fear that seeks to punish Kashmiris simply for their identity and livelihood. What is unfolding across India reflects a dangerous slide toward authoritarian thinking that Farooq Abdullah rightly compared to a “Hitlerian” system. This opinion article examines how these attacks, state silence, and ideological extremism are closely linked and why India’s claims of democracy stand seriously exposed.

Climate of Fear Facing Kashmiri Traders

Kashmiri shawl traders, many of whom travel to Indian cities every winter to earn an honest living, have increasingly become soft targets for mobs driven by hate and political propaganda. These traders are harassed, beaten, threatened, and forced to flee, not because of any crime, but because they are Kashmiri Muslims. Such attacks destroy livelihoods and push already struggling families deeper into poverty, while the Indian state largely looks the other way.

◆ Targeting Livelihoods: Kashmiri shawl sellers depend on seasonal trade for survival, yet they are attacked in markets and streets as if earning a living has become a crime in India.
◆ Mob Violence Normalised: The growing acceptance of mob attacks shows how hate crimes are no longer treated as exceptions but as tolerated acts.
◆ State Silence As Approval: The lack of strong police action sends a clear message that attackers enjoy protection under the current political order.

Farooq Abdullah’s Warning and Its Significance

By calling these attacks “Hitlerian,” Farooq Abdullah did not exaggerate but highlighted a serious ideological shift in India’s political culture. His warning draws attention to the fact that history has already shown where unchecked hate and supremacist thinking lead societies. Nazism vanished because the world rejected it, but India appears to be flirting dangerously with similar ideas.

◆ A Historical Comparison: Abdullah’s reference to Nazism reflects the systematic dehumanisation of minorities now visible in India.
◆ Ideology Over Humanity: Extremist thinking prioritises rigid ideology over basic human rights and dignity.
◆ A Voice of Resistance: His remarks stand as a rare political challenge to rising intolerance within India itself.

Hindutva Politics and Systematic Hate

The attacks on Kashmiri traders cannot be separated from the wider Hindutva project that defines Indian nationalism in narrow religious terms. This ideology openly labels Muslims as outsiders and Kashmiris as permanent suspects. Under this framework, violence is justified as “nationalism,” while victims are blamed for their own suffering.

◆ Hate As Political Tool: Fear and hostility are deliberately used to mobilise political support.
◆ Muslims As Scapegoats: Kashmiri Muslims are portrayed as enemies to distract from economic and social failures.
◆ Institutional Bias: Law enforcement often mirrors political prejudice instead of protecting victims.

Post-2019 Kashmir and Its Ripple Effects

Since August 2019, when India illegally revoked the special status of IIOJK, repression inside Kashmir has intensified, but its impact has also spilled beyond the region. Kashmiris living or working elsewhere in India now face suspicion, abuse, and violence simply because of their origin.

◆ Criminalising Identity: Being Kashmiri is increasingly treated as a security threat.
◆ Collective Punishment: Ordinary Kashmiris pay the price for political decisions imposed without consent.
◆ Expansion of Repression: What began in Kashmir is now visible across Indian cities.

Economic Warfare Against Kashmiris

Attacking shawl traders is not just hate crime; it is economic warfare designed to break Kashmiri resilience. The shawl trade is one of the few traditional industries supporting thousands of families, and targeting traders strikes directly at their economic backbone.

◆ Destroying Traditional Trade: Shawl selling has sustained Kashmiri households for generations.
◆ Forcing Poverty: Violence pushes traders to abandon markets and lose income.
◆ Silencing Through Hunger: Economic pressure is used as a weapon to crush dissent and identity.

Indian State’s Failure and Moral Collapse

India presents itself globally as a democracy, yet its failure to protect Kashmiri traders exposes deep hypocrisy. When victims repeatedly complain and no meaningful action follows, it becomes clear that this is not incompetence but policy-driven neglect.

◆ Selective Law Enforcement: Police act swiftly against minorities but remain passive against hate groups.
◆ Justice Denied: Victims are left without protection or legal remedy.
◆ Democratic Claims Exposed: A democracy that allows mob rule loses moral credibility.

Regional Peace and False Nationalism

Farooq Abdullah’s call for peaceful relations with neighbouring countries contrasts sharply with India’s aggressive nationalism. True peace and stability cannot exist where internal hatred is encouraged and minorities are treated as enemies.

◆ Aggression Breeds Instability: Internal repression weakens regional peace prospects.
◆ False Strength Narrative: Intimidation of minorities is projected as national strength.
◆ Peace Requires Justice: Without internal justice, external peace remains impossible.

Why These Attacks Matter Beyond Kashmir

The targeting of Kashmiri traders is a warning sign for all minorities in India. When one group is normalised as a target, others soon follow. History shows that unchecked hatred never stops with one community.

◆ A Slippery Slope: Today Kashmiris, tomorrow any dissenting voice.
◆ Societal Breakdown: Hate corrodes trust and coexistence.
◆ Global Alarm Needed: Silence from the world emboldens further abuse.

India Must Be Held Accountable for ‘Hitlerian’ Mindset

Farooq Abdullah’s condemnation should not be dismissed as political rhetoric but understood as a serious alarm about India’s current direction. The attacks on Kashmiri shawl traders, the silence of authorities, and the rise of extremist ideology together paint a disturbing picture of a country drifting away from democratic values. India cannot claim moral leadership while allowing its streets to become hostile grounds for minorities. If this trend continues unchecked, history will judge not only the attackers but also those who stayed silent.