The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Jammu and Kashmir government of using education as a “propaganda tool” after allegations that students were “forced” to attend a Tiranga rally organized by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
PDP leader Iltija Mufti, the daughter of party president and former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, criticized the move, calling it unacceptable. She claimed that the J&K Education Department, under the current National Conference (NC)-led government, made it mandatory for both private and public school children across Poonch to attend the rally, which she described as an ideological event organized by a group that “normalizes anti-Muslim bigotry.”
“The J&K Education Department has made it mandatory for both private and public school children across Poonch to attend a rally organized by the ABVP. Using education as a propaganda tool by forcing students to attend ideological events is unacceptable,” Mufti wrote in a post on X.
Her statement referred to a purported order issued by the Chief Education Officer of Poonch, instructing school heads to send 40-50 students and two teachers to the rally, which took place on Thursday.
PDP leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed Para also joined the criticism, accusing the government of a major shift in policy. He reminded that J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had condemned such orders before elections, but now, under his leadership, the government was endorsing the ABVP rally.
“J&K government’s order, with the education department’s endorsement of an ABVP rally, forcing students to participate, was condemned by Omar Abdullah before the elections. Yet now, this blatant transformation under the government stands as its only so-called ‘achievement’ in the last 100 days,” Para said.
He went further, alleging that the Abdullah-led National Conference government had abandoned its promises made during the elections, including commitments to restore Article 370, release political prisoners, rationalize reservations, and revoke laws like PSA and AFSPA.
“U-turns and betrayal continue,” Para added in his post.
