Indian-Administered J&K Administration Accused of Targeting Muslim Institutions, Urdu Language
She said the administration is pursuing a systematic agenda to dismantle the region’s cultural and religious fabric.
Speaking in Ganderbal on May 3, the former Chief Minister criticized the closure of private educational institutions and an alleged assault on the Urdu language.
Mufti highlighted the shutdown of schools such as Sirajul Uloom, which she described as vital lifelines for underprivileged students, providing opportunities for professional success. “Educational institutions like Sirajul Uloom, which provided education to poor children and had often produced engineers and doctors, were shut down,” she said.
The PDP leader linked the closure of these schools to a broader strategy aimed at marginalizing the Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir. She argued that targeting specific institutions and the language they use is intentional rather than accidental. Mufti expressed concern over efforts to “delete” Urdu, a language deeply rooted in the region’s history and administration, claiming these moves aim at “erasing Muslim cultural and religious identity” in the Union Territory.
By closing institutions that serve lower-income families, Mufti said the administration is widening educational access disparities. “There is an agenda to close these institutions,” she warned, calling for the protection of symbols defining the state’s diverse cultural landscape.
Her remarks followed the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to declare Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Shopian’s Imam Sahib unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The ban was imposed over alleged links with the Jamaat-e-Islami and accusations that the institution fostered a radicalized environment.
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According to an order issued by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Anshul Garg, based on a dossier from the Shopian Senior Superintendent of Police, the institution was declared unlawful. The order noted that several former students were involved in militant activities and acts “prejudicial to national security,” further suggesting the institution was misused for purposes “detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.”
Mufti described the ban as a “flagrant injustice” to poor and underprivileged communities. “Every single day, the J-K government acts as a mute bystander & a timid enabler of vicious assaults on J-K’s identity & dignity. Declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom as an unlawful entity under UAPA is a flagrant injustice to the poor, underprivileged sections of society. This institution served as a beacon of quality education for students unable to afford expensive schooling. It has produced reputed doctors and professionals who served this nation with dedication. Banning these altruistic institutions without any solid evidence of anti-national activity shows a deep-seated prejudice & ill intention,” she stated.
Source: thenewsmill.com
