The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced that the education department is no longer allowed to direct students or staff to attend political events or rallies. This decision was made public through a circular from the School Education Department on Saturday.
The move comes after the government faced backlash for a previous circular issued in Poonch. That circular, sent by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Poonch, instructed several schools to send 40-50 students and two teachers to a rally organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student group linked to the RSS. The rally, called the “Tiranga Rally,” sparked criticism, especially from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the government of using education for political purposes.
The new circular clearly prohibits any participation in political events by students or staff. It states:
“All officers, including Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers, and school heads under the School Education Department, are instructed not to permit or direct students or staff to attend any political program or rally organized by any political group.”
The Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sakina Itoo, shared the circular on the platform X (formerly Twitter). It also directed Chief Education Officers to strictly monitor such activities and report any violations immediately to higher authorities.
Political Reactions
The PDP strongly criticized the earlier directive. On Friday, PDP leader Waheed Para accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of hypocrisy. He pointed out that the CM previously condemned such actions before elections but has since changed his stance.
“Before elections, Omar Abdullah criticized orders like these. Now, forcing students to join rallies is being presented as a so-called achievement,” Para said on X.
Another PDP leader, Iltija Mufti, called the directive unacceptable. She criticized the government for allegedly using education as a tool for propaganda.
“The education department in J&K is forcing both private and public school students in Poonch to attend an ABVP rally. This is unacceptable. Education should not be used to promote political ideologies,” she wrote on X.
Mufti also raised concerns about a similar issue in Doda, where the local youth services and sports officer initially assigned four officers to oversee a Kabaddi and wrestling event organized by the ABVP. After facing criticism, this order was later withdrawn.
The PDP continues to voice its concerns about the growing involvement of political groups in educational spaces, calling for neutrality in the education system.
