Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Chairman of the Peoples Conference and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, today demanded that the Government rescind the order issued by the School Education Department (SED) on the takeover of Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) schools, if it was not in line with its original intent.
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Addressing a press conference under the banner of the newly formed Peoples Alliance for Change, Lone strongly criticised the decision, warning that it would adversely affect the education of thousands of students enrolled in these institutions.
“If the Government says the order has been tampered with, then the minister must rescind it. She has all the powers to do so; the minister comes first and then the officer,” Lone said.
Calling for unity among political parties, Lone urged them to set aside differences and protect students’ futures.
“We condemn the takeover of FAT schools. These institutions have thousands of children enrolled. Don’t make their careers a theatre for politics. Education should not be obstructed,” he said.
Providing historical context, Lone said the law enabling such action was first introduced by Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s Government in 1983 and was invoked in 1990 during Governor Jagmohan’s rule, when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Union Home Minister.
He added that the legal framework was further strengthened through an SRO in 2010 under the present Chief Minister’s tenure.
“This is not something that happened overnight. Kashmiri parties have been part of the framework, and the Centre has now implemented it,” Lone remarked, accusing rival parties of hypocrisy.
“Today the National Conference implements it, but tomorrow, when out of power, they condemn it again. This makes politics look like a joke; those who have imposed such bans must not condemn it,” Lone added.
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