'Why surprised when they join terror groups?': Is Mehbooba Mufti rationalising picking up arms against the state with her view on Kashmiri vendors being attacked in Lucknow

In a condemnable incident, two Kashmiri street vendors were physically assaulted in broad daylight by a group of saffron-clad men on a busy road in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow on Wednesday.

Reacting to the viral video of the vicious act, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter and chose to provide a sort of rationalisation as to why people get indoctrinated, join terror groups and pick up arms against the country, extrapolating the video from Lucknow as well as recent despicable incidents of attacks on Kashmiris in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack to somehow make a larger case about terrorism in the Valley - something that has been going on for years. 

In her tweet, she collated the reason as 'why young pliable men are taken under the wings of terror groups & indoctrinated' to the inhuman attack on the Kashmiri vendors in Uttar Pradesh. 

READ: Omar Abdullah Demands Answers After Violent Hate Crime Against Kashmiri Vendors In Lucknow, Asks PM Modi 'Can We Expect Action?'

As the video of this contemptible incident has been doing the rounds of social media, it shows the saffron-clad goons violently abusing the two vendors doing their job by the road and then shockingly justifying the heinous act with the reason that - they are Kashmiri'. The appalling video shows the disturbing cries and evidently frightened faces of the two Kashmiris who are also asked for their 'identity cards' after being slapped and beaten with a stick. 

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh police taking cognizance of the act have arrested a man named Bajrangi Sonkar and three others, who were seen beating the men with a rod. They are said to be members of Vishwa Hindu Dal - a fringe group. Taking to Twitter, the Lucknow Police informed that a case has been registered against the culprits under IPC Section 147, 323 and 504.

 WATCH | "Our Fight Is For Kashmir, Not Against Kashmiris", Says PM Modi In Strong Message Over Developments Following Pulwama Terror Attack

On February 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about the attacks on the Kashmiri students in various parts of the country. Asserting on the need of the hour to tackle terrorism which is the demand of not only Indians, but of the Kashmiris as well who have been on the receiving end of the atrocities in the light of the terror attack, PM Modi has said that our fight is for Kashmir and not against Kashmiris. 

"Our fight is against terrorism, against the enemies of humanity. Our fight is for Kashmir and not against Kashmir," he said while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan's Tonk.