‘Betrayal’, ‘Shamelessness’: Opposition Parties In J&K
Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 23:
Teams of officials accompanied by police visited schools affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) across the 10 districts of Kashmir as the J-K government on Saturday took over their management.
According to officials, the entire process was conducted “peacefully and smoothly”, without disturbing the education of the students.
The School Education Department had on Friday ordered the takeover of 215 schools affiliated with JeI and its Falah-e-Aam Trust, where over 51,000 students are enrolled, in order to “safeguard their academic future”.
On Saturday morning, officials of district administrations, principals of the respective nearest high and higher secondary schools, accompanied by police teams, reached these schools. The administrative teams took charge of the schools, checked their documents and the infrastructure, as well as interacted with the staff, the officials said.
The move drew criticism from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP, People’s Conference and Apni Party, which called it “administrative overreach”.
Justice and Development Front (JDF) J-K — formed by the former members of the banned JeI — denounced the government move, saying it was a “painful reminder” of the National Conference’s “history of betrayal”.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it is unfortunate that the ruling party in J-K “is going against its own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda”.
However, a teacher at one of such schools in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district welcomed the government move.
“I think it is a good step. We used to face a lot of difficulties, but now I think everything will
J&K Govt takes over
be streamlined,” Mohammad Ishaq, teacher at Hanfia Islamia Institute at Tachloo area of the district, said.
He said the district magistrates used to frame the managing bodies of the schools in the 1980s as well.
A student at the school, Aliya Irshad, said the move will benefit the students and the staff. “The school will improve and prosper,” she said.
She also demanded that the government increase the salaries of the staff as they work very hard for the students.
The Friday order said, “The Managing Committee of the 215 schools shall be taken over by the District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner concerned who shall propose a fresh Managing Committee in due course for the concerned schools after getting these duly verified.”
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, on February 28, 2019, and again on February 27, 2024, declared the Jel as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“The Intelligence Agencies have identified a number of schools which were found to be directly or indirectly affiliated with proscribed organisation Jamat-e-Islami (Jel)/Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT),” the order said.
It said the validity of the managing committees of these schools has expired, and also these panels have been “reported adversely” by the intelligence agencies.
The order said the decision to take over the managing committees of such schools has been taken in order to safeguard the academic future of the students enrolled in these schools.
The concerned District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner shall take appropriate steps in consultation and in coordination with the School Education Department to ensure that the academic career of the students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any manner, it added.
Education Minister Sakina Itoo, however, said that the schools will be looked after by the principals of the nearby high or higher secondary schools. She said the draft approved by her on Friday mentioned that the cluster principals would look after these schools, contrary to the order issued by the School Education Department Secretary, an IAS officer who reports to the LG.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties on Saturday reacted sharply to the Jammu and Kashmir government’s takeover of the management of the 215 schools linked to the banned socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). Some termed it “betrayal” by the National Conference (NC)-led state government, while others called it the implementation of the ‘BJP’s agenda.’
Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti termed it “another attack on the institutions in Jammu and Kashmir”. He also accused the ruling party of going “against its own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am linking it with culture and the identity of Jammu Kashmir because there are very few schools that provide regular education along with Islamic education,” she told the media here.
“First, the assets of Jamaat-e-Islami JeI were taken over, and it was banned, but people of Jammu and Kashmir had faith that once an elected government was formed, such attacks on our identity and institutions would stop,” she said. “That is the reason that the people gave around 50 seats to the National Conference and three MPs, including Ladakh…. But, unusually, such an order has now come from the government,” she said. Mufti also alleged that Urdu “was being removed from government offices and school textbooks, and the NC government has remained silent.
“This time, it is a participant in the process. Unfortunately, they are going against their own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda,” she said.
People’s Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone also slammed the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government on the issue, saying, “Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government.”
“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,” Lone wrote on X.
“Be under no illusions. This 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, referring to the name-calling by the NC while targeting his party during the assembly elections.
“The Intelligence Agencies have identified a number of schools which were found to be directly or indirectly affiliated with proscribed organisation Jamat-e-Islami (JeI)/Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT),” the order said.
“The validity of managing committees of 215 such schools has expired or has been reported adversely upon by the intelligence agencies,” it added.
Senior NC leader and Education Minister Sakina Itoo said the decision was taken following the request from parents and teachers, saying that the future of their children was at stake, as CID verification of the management committee of about 221 schools came as negative.
“Due to an adverse CID report, the students of 10th and 12th classes had to face problems at the time of board examinations and registration. Since the term of the management committees of the Falah-e-Aam Trust schools had expired, we have decided that the principal of the nearest government higher secondary school will take charge of the said schools as the in-charge of these schools for three months to save the future of the students of these schools,” she said.
