Thread by @tallstories

Let us understand it for what it is. The celebration of Pakistan’s cricket victory by Kashmiris was an eruption of 2+ years of pent up anger/resentment against GoI &the unilateralism of all its decisions on J&K, a mass protest, an expression of the alienation. #kashmir #cricket

It’s an indicator of all that’s wrong with govt’s policy on #Kashmir. Arresting Kashmiri youth, booking them for terrorism for supporting Pak in a #cricket match is not just absurd, it’s not going to make “good” Indians of Kashmiris. It will make them hate us more.

If Amit Shah’s remark about wanting to talk to his “brothers and sisters” in the Valley was not just a jumla, he should send out the message to Yogi and other CMs to drop the cases against Kashmiris. #cricket #kashmir

Let us also understand where this disproportionate national response to Kashmiris celebrating Pak cricket victory is coming from - deep seated shock that 2019 hasnt tamed Kashmiris, that they aren’t waving the tricolour, not being true to the pix of paradise being painted by govt

Also the confusion - you can fire pellet guns at Kashmiris throwing stones, but what do you do with a protest that looks, sounds and feels like a Diwali celebration?

Lots of replies saying support 4 Pak cricket team been around since ever. Going by national narrative, it should’ve vanished after 2019. It hasn’t.What we saw Sunday night was 1st public expression in 2 years, a celebration of pak cricket victory as first protest in 2 years.

Let me also remind peeps that in my city Chennai, in 1999, at the height of India-pak tensions, Chepauk rose to give a standing ovation to victorious Pak cricket team. What should we do with those people?