Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Wednesday strongly and unequivocally condemned the deeply communal, irresponsible and inflammatory remarks made by BJP Uttar Pradesh Minister Thakur Raghuraj Singh, who described Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) as "hubs of terrorists" and threatened to shut down these premier educational institutions.
National Convenor of theAssociation, Nasir Khuehami, said that such statements represent a dangerous attempt to communalise education, stigmatise entire student communities and undermine institutions that have made extraordinary contributions to India's Nation-building, intellectual development and constitutional democracy.
Association demanded the immediate sacking of Raghuraj Singh from the Uttar Pradesh Council of Ministers and the registration of an FIR against him under appropriate provisions of law for his inflammatory and potentially divisive remarks. It asserted that minister holding constitutional office cannot be allowed to misuse his position to spread communal hatred, malign educational institutions and create an atmosphere of fear, insecurity and hostility among students.
"It is disturbing that instead of addressing the pressing challenges confronting India's education sector, an elected representative is busy demonising universities, branding their students as potential terrorists and threatening to shut down institutions because of their names and identities. This is nothing short of political intimidation and an attempt to turn educational institutions into convenient scapegoats for communal polarisation and electoral politics," Khuehami said.
Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University are among India's most historically significant educational institutions, with legacies deeply intertwined with the country's freedom struggle, intellectual awakening and nation-building. Over the decades, both institutions have nurtured generations of distinguished personalities, who have made invaluable contributions to India's political, intellectual, administrative, sporting and cultural life. Neither institution needs to prove its patriotism to anyone; their rich histories, enduring contributions and distinguished alumni speak for themselves, the Association said.
"To reduce the legacy of these institutions to religious identities or casually brand them as centres of terrorism is not only historically dishonest but also an insult to generations of students, teachers and scholars who have contributed to India's progress. Jamia and AMU are integral to India's educational heritage and national fabric. They deserve recognition for their contributions, not political vilification and threats of closure," he said.
He asserted that, these Institutions belong to India, and their students are an integral part of the country's future. Their campuses are places of learning, research, debate,scientific inquiry and intellectual development, not targets for political vendetta or communal propaganda. Association added that what was particularly alarming was the deliberate attempt to use students and universities as scapegoats for political mileage. Instead of creating more universities, strengthening existing institutions, expanding research facilities, improving educational infrastructure and generating opportunities for young people, BJP Ministers appear more interested in threatening to shut down established universities and branding their students as terrorists.
"Students and educational institutions cannot be turned into convenient political punching bags whenever someone attempts to exploit religious sentiments. Universities must be judged by their academic standards, research output,institutional governance and contribution to society, not by the religious identity associated with their names. Such irresponsible statements risk legitimising prejudice and deepening alienation among students who should instead feel respected, included and empowered," he said.
The Association demanded the immediate sacking of Minister Raghuraj Singh from the Uttar Pradesh Council of Ministers for his grossly irresponsible and inflammatory conduct. It also called for the immediate registration of an FIR under appropriate legal provisions and a time-bound investigation into his remarks.
The Association urged the BJP's national leadership and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to unequivocally condemn the minister's statements and take concrete action by removing him from the Council of Ministers. "A minister who publicly brands students and premier educational institutions as centres of terrorism, questions their patriotism and threatens their existence cannot be allowed to escape accountability," Khuehami added.
