Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Sunday strongly condemned the “wave of detentions, family intimidations, and hostel lockdowns targeting students”.
These heavy-handed measures were deployed solely to prevent a peaceful protest demanding a fair and equal reservation policy, JKSA said in a statement here.
“We have always prioritized discussion over discord. However, treating students, the future of this region as adversaries is a grave mistake. These young people are not agitators but informed citizens standing up for their constitutional rights to justice and equality. The government of the day must understand that the grievances raised by the students are not secessionist in nature, nor are they anti-national,” JKSA pointed out.
It said “these are constitutional grievances, and we expect the authorities to respond to them within a constitutional framework. No office in this country stands above the constitution, and the students have maintained constitutional methods and approaches throughout their movement. Their demands are rooted in fairness, not in defiance.”
It said while the planned sit-in has been cancelled due to administrative restrictions, the government cannot overlook the legitimacy of these concerns. “By detaining students, the authorities have inadvertently acknowledged that the reservation policy indeed requires serious review and engagement,” JKSA added.
JKSA urged the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to move from containment to conversation, and from intimidation to inclusion. “We appeal to the government to reconsider its current policies and guidelines regarding student voices and to actively engage with them on matters of public concern.”
It added that the discussion on the reservation policy must be conducted through genuine dialogue, ensuring that the voices of students are heard, their concerns are acknowledged, and a fair and transparent solution is reached. “It is time to stop criminalizing dissent and start listening to the youth, who seek nothing but justice, equity, and adherence to constitutional principles.”
