Shillong, February 19: Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday triggered a political row by calling for a boycott of 'everything Kashmiri' in the wake of the February 14 terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Tathagata Roy's comments received furious responses from many including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don’t visit Kashmir, don’t go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don’t buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree," Roy, who describes himself as a right-wing Hindu socio-political thinker, writer, ideologue on Twitter, tweeted. Jammu And Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Admits Intelligence Failure, Says 'We Are Fault Also'.

The BJP leader turned governor also referred to the Pakistan Army “who are handling the Kashmiri separatists” and its role in “East Pakistan”, mentioning war crimes like slaughter and rape. “… And they would have kept East Pakistan but for the whacking from India,” Roy tweeted. “I am not suggesting that we go that far. But at least some distance?” (sic) he wrote.

Reacting to Roy's remarks, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said: "These are the bigots driving Kashmir over the abyss. While you are at it Tathagata why don’t you stop using our rivers to generate your electricity as well?" "People like Tathagata want Kashmir but without Kashmiris. They’d sooner see us driven in to the sea. He’ll be best placed to know he can’t have one without the other so what’s it to be? (sic)" he added.

Despite facing flak, Roy refused to relent and said he was just sharing the suggestion of a retired army colonel. Calling the boycott of 'everything Kashmiri' a non-violent reaction, he tweeted, "Vociferously violent reactions from media and several others to my ECHOING OF a suggestion from a retired army colonel. A purely NON-VIOLENT REACTION to the killing of our soldiers by the hundreds and the driving out of 3.5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits. (sic)"

In the worst ever terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since militancy erupted in 1989, Dar on February 14 rammed his vehicle packed with explosives into a CRPF bus, killing at least 40 troopers on the spot.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2019 04:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).