Srinagar, Aug 23 (PTI) Several political parties in Kashmir on Saturday criticised the J&K government’s takeover of the management of 215 schools affiliated to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and called for revoking the order, while the BJP welcomed it as a “much-needed intervention” in national interest.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti slammed the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of “implementing BJP’s agenda” and “bringing an established educational system to the brink of destruction”.
“It is unfortunate that they are going against their own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda,” she told reporters here.
“Why take over the schools? When they were not taken over in the LG rule, why now in the popular government? If the minister is saying there is confusion, the order should be cancelled. I think it is very bad to play with the lives of the people and especially with the education system,” Mufti said.
The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K appealed to Education Minister Sakina Itoo to stand up for her own people.
“It is not about JeI or FAT. You have done this today for the people in Delhi, tomorrow they will ask you to do something else,” she said, adding, “It seems they (NC) are on the same page with the BJP”.
Peoples’ Conference chief and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone too targeted the NC, saying “215 schools forcibly taken over by the J and K Government. And no prizes for guessing. The elected government has passed the order. Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government.”
“They are setting new standards in servility. And just to recall the sermons, the edicts that this party passed against their opponents,” Lone said in a post on X.
He asked the people to be “under no illusions” as the elected government “is a party to all acts undertaken”.
“Be it mailings or termination of employees, they are equal partners. They have been equal partners in the past. And they will be equal partners in the future. This is the A team. This was always the A team,” Lone said, returning the barb that the National Conference (NC) directed at his party during the assembly elections.
Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said it is deeply regrettable that the elected government has “enforced the ban” on Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) schools by announcing the takeover of their management.
“Although Jamaat-e-Islami has been banned since 2019, the LG administration refrained from taking over the management of FAT schools. Yet, the elected government, despite enjoying a strong public mandate, has chosen to do so,” Bukhari said on X.
He said rather than assuming direct control, the government could have exercised its authority by establishing clear regulations to safeguard the academic future of students enrolled in these institutions.
“Enforcing a ban in terms of taking over the management of these schools was neither necessary nor justified,” he said.
The fact of the matter is that the ruling party has once again proved its “intolerance” towards those with whom it has political or ideological differences, the former minister said.
The Apni Party chief demanded that the government immediately cancel its decision. “To monitor these schools, the government can establish a regulatory authority to ensure they fully comply with all relevant laws and regulations,” he added.
However, the Jammu and Kashmir BJP has welcomed the takeover of schools in the valley and said the Lt Governor–led administration has secured the future of thousands of students by this action.
BJP vice president Priya Sethi said the JeI and its affiliate FAT “misused the sacred platform of education to spread radicalisation instead of knowledge”.
“By seizing control of these schools, the government has broken this vicious cycle and secured the academic future of thousands of innocent students,” Sethi, who is a former education minister, said in a statement here.
The J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur also welcomed the government’s decision and described it as a “much-needed intervention” to ensure that “young minds are shielded from separatist narratives”.
Thakur said the takeover was in the national interest, as it would ensure a positive and secure learning environment for thousands of students.
