by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Centre rushes to quell unrest against Kashmiris outside J&K
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Feb 18
The Modi government is worried over growing cases of threats, intimidation and uncontrollable anger in educational institutions across the country in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.
The Centre has twin problems in hand; It is to ensure the safety of students from Kashmir following a backlash against them and also punish elements in universities who are raising anti-India slogans.
While the Ministry of Human Resource Development has not directly written any advisory to the Universities or directed the UGC to do so, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cautioned states to maintain law and order in their respective territories.
The Home Ministry issued the advisory after students and other residents experienced threats and intimidation. The most serious incidents were reported from Dehradun and Ambala, both ruled by the BJP.
The CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police has even opened a helpline and a students’ organisation set up a temporary camp in Mohali to accommodate at least 20 young men and women who had left Dehradun and Ambala after facing threats.
Several special teams have been deployed to monitor trolling on social media specifically targeting Kashmiri students and people of Kahmiri origin living outside J&K. Several state governments have also issued advisory to residents to be careful and avoid moving around.
The PMO is also worried as more than 20,000 Kashmiri students are studying outside the state. Around 8,000 students – belonging to Jammu, Leh and Kashmir regions – are part of the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). This scheme is meant for students from Jammu and Kashmir.
The PMSSS covers a certain number of colleges and universities that are spread across Delhi, Pune, Udaipur, Haryana and other areas.
A handful of institutions even suspended some Kashmiri students who shared objectionable comments on social media.
According to officials, while there have been no complaints from students studying at universities covered under the PMSSS so far.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has told private satellite TV channels to broadcast content strictly in adherence to the Program and Advertising Code as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed there under. The channels have been told not to show content which is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes, and or (ii) contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation.
Ends
