Several political parties in Kashmir on Saturday (August 23, 2025) criticized the government of Jamm and Kashmir (J&K) to take over the proceedings of 215 schools associated with the forbidden Jamaat-E-Islam (JEI), and many called it the “betrayal” of the National Conference.
PDP PDP Mehboob Muftti described this as another attack on institutions in Jamm and Kashmir and said it was unfortunate that the ruling party went “against his own people and performs the BJP agenda”.
“This is another attack on the institutions and culture of Jammu and Kashmir. I connect it with the culture and identity of J&K, because there are very few schools that provide regular education along with Islamic education,” Mr Mfti said in Srinagar.
She said that JEI was previously taken over and was banned, but people from J&K still believed that once the elected government was created, “such attacks on our identity and institutions will stop”.
“That’s why people put around 50 seats at a national conference and three deputies, including Ladakh … but it is unusual that such an order now comes from the government,” she said.
Mrs. Muftti, former Chief Minister of the former J&K state, said that Urdu “is removed from government authorities and school textbooks and the government of NC silent.
The righteous and development of the front (JDF) J&K – created by members of the forbidden Jed – condemned the government step, saying that it is an “administrative overlap” and “painful reminders” of the “betrayal” of the National Conference.
In the paper on X this “strongly” urged the authorities to cancel “this arbitrary” and ensure that every child in Jamm and Kashmir has access to continuous education.
“215 schools were forcibly taken over by the government of J&K and no prizes for guessing. The elected government has received an order. Shame and shamelessness in this government took new meanings,” said Peoples and Mla Handware Sajad Lone.
“They set new standards in the service,” Mr. Lone said in a post on X.
He asked people not to be “under without illusions” because the elected government “is aside from all the acts”. “Whether they are e-mails or ending employees, they are straight partners. They were equal partners in the past. And they will be equal to partners in the future. This is a team A. This has always been a team A,” Lone said, referring to the call of the National Conference (NC), while they focus on its party during election elections.
The leader of PDP Iltija Muftti said that Jesi was always the first goal of NC when he was in power. “Throughout the history of Kashmir, every time the national conference gained a brute majority, their first goal was always Jamaat,” she said at X.
Another PDP leader, Waheed Para, said the integration of JEI into the election process was one of the main achievements of the Center after Article 370 in 2019.
However, he said that recent moves, such as book bans and the takeover of schools, seem to be “knee -jerky” reactions rather than thoughtful strategies. “These actions suppress individuals aligned by Jesi and nearby doors for those who are trying to emerge from the unrest for the last two decades,” added Mr. Para.
Party head Apni Altaf Bukhari said the step is deeply regrettable.
“Although Jamaat-E-Islami has been banned since 2019, the LG administration has been refrained by taking over fat schools. The elected government, although it enjoyed a strong public mandate, decided to do so,” Bukhari said at the X.
He said that one may have political and ideological differences with JEI, but it is “undeniable” that thick schools have played a positive and commendable role in the education sector over the decades.
He demanded that the government immediately annul its decision.
“To monitor these schools, the government can establish a regulatory body to ensure that they fully adhere to all relevant laws and regulations,” he said.
When PDP President asked the Minister of Education J&K Sakina ITOO, she said she should cancel the order if there was a confusion.
“Why take the first place? If they were not taken over in the LG government, why now in the popular government? If the minister says there is confusion, the order should be canceled. I think it is very bad to play with people’s lives and especially with the educational system,” Mrs. Muftti said.
Mr. ITOO said on Saturday (August 23, 2025) that the order to take over 215 schools associated with the forbidden Jei was “distorted” and will only be taken care of by the government until new management committees are created.
Published – August 23 2025 06:53
