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SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Saturday strongly condemned the reported appearance of slogans reading “Free Kashmir” on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia amid the ongoing student agitation demanding the restoration of the students’ union and the conduct of campus elections. The Association called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urged the Jamia administration and Delhi Police to identify those responsible and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the legitimate democratic demands of students must not be overshadowed or undermined by slogans that have no place in a movement centred on students’ rights, representation and democratic participation.
“We do not endorse any slogans advocating the disintegration of India, and we will never support those who call for the country to be broken up. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and it will always remain so. Attempts are being made to derail the entire student movement through such provocative slogans. Whoever wrote ‘Free Kashmir’ on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia must be identified through a proper investigation and face legal action if found guilty,” Khuehami said.
“The students participating in the ongoing agitation at Jamia Millia Islamia are raising legitimate concerns about their democratic rights, student representation and the restoration of the students’ union. Their demands deserve to be heard and addressed through dialogue, not dismissed or undermined. We strongly condemn any attempt to derail this movement by introducing divisive slogans or provocative messaging that shifts attention away from the students’ genuine concerns,” he added.
The Association emphasised that the responsibility for maintaining discipline, security and a conducive academic environment on campus rests with the university administration. It said it would be unfair to hold the entire student community responsible for slogans allegedly written by unidentified individuals without first establishing the facts.
“The appearance of such slogans warrants a thorough investigation. The Jamia administration and Delhi Police must examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, review available CCTV footage and establish who was responsible. Since CCTV cameras are installed across the campus, the available footage should be examined to identify those who wrote the slogans and determine whether any outsiders were involved.
“Over the past week, concerns have been raised about the alleged unauthorised entry of outsiders onto the campus and their accommodation there. These allegations, too, should be examined on the basis of evidence. Accountability must be established through a fair investigation, not speculation or collective blame,” the Association said.
Khuehami cautioned against using the incident as a pretext to delegitimise the entire student agitation or suppress legitimate democratic expression. He stressed that the actions of individuals, if established through an investigation, must not be used to discredit students collectively or undermine their demand for democratic representation and accountability within the university.
“The students’ demands for the restoration of the students’ union and the conduct of elections deserve a serious and constructive response. These young people are the future of the country. Universities should nurture democratic participation, critical thinking and responsible citizenship rather than allow students’ legitimate demands to be overshadowed by controversy. Why should students be denied an elected representative body when their concerns can be addressed through democratic processes?” the Association said.
The Association also accused Union Minister Giriraj Singh of exploiting the incident to delegitimise the student agitation and suppress democratic expression instead of acknowledging the students’ legitimate demand for representation.
“Students are simply demanding their democratic right to an elected students’ union. Instead of addressing these legitimate demands, leaders like Giriraj Singh are exploiting the incident to divert attention, malign the student community and discredit its peaceful struggle for democratic representation,” the Association added.
