Govt has failed to understand J&K’s realities: Hakeem Yaseen

• Says vested interests disrupt peace, calls for merit- and Constitution-based governance
• Urges parties not to play politics with students’ future

SRINAGAR: President of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, on Wednesday expressed serious concern over what he termed as the continued failure of the Government of India to fully understand Jammu and Kashmir in its totality, including both its internal sensitivities and external dimensions.

In a statement issued here, Hakeem said it was deeply unfortunate that despite decades of engagement, policy interventions and political developments, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be approached without a comprehensive and empathetic understanding of its unique socio-political and cultural realities. He said that such an approach has often resulted in avoidable misunderstandings and policy missteps that have hurt the interests of the people of the region.

Hakeem pointed out that after a long period, Jammu and Kashmir had begun to witness a phase of relative peace, stability and developmental progress. However, he regretted that certain elements, driven by vested interests, do not want peace to prevail in the region. “Whenever the situation starts improving, such elements become active and attempt to disturb peace by creating law and order problems on one pretext or another,” he said. He stressed that these repeated attempts to derail peace not only harm the region’s image but also adversely affect the livelihoods and future of ordinary citizens.

The PDF president said that peace in Jammu and Kashmir is essential not only for the welfare of its people but also for the overall stability of the country. He urged all stakeholders to act responsibly and refrain from actions that could push the region back into uncertainty and unrest. Referring to the recent controversy surrounding admissions of students at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said it was highly unfortunate that politics was being played with the lives and futures of students.

He clarified that the students in question were selected purely on merit and not on the basis of any individual’s recommendation. “The future of students should never become a casualty of political point-scoring or administrative confusion,” he said. Hakeem acknowledged that the government had intervened in time to safeguard the future of the affected students, but maintained that such controversies should not arise in the first place.

He said that cancellation of admissions or shifting students to other institutions cannot be considered a viable or permanent solution. “These are temporary measures that only add to the anxiety and uncertainty faced by students and their families,” he added. The former minister stressed the need for a long-term and permanent policy framework for educational institutions that are run on donations and support from followers of different faiths.

He said that such institutions should be strengthened and regulated in a manner that ensures transparency, merit-based admissions and adherence to constitutional values. Hakeem warned that adopting selective or discriminatory approaches would only create a chaotic situation in the region. “We must remain committed to merit, secularism and the spirit of the Constitution of India,” he said, adding that education should be a unifying force rather than a source of division.

He called upon the government to carefully examine all aspects of such sensitive issues and take decisions that inspire confidence, uphold constitutional principles and protect the future of the younger generation.