Chidambaram asks Kashmiris to cooperate with government

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to cooperate with the State Government and ensure that all schools and colleges function normally.

In a statement issued here, Chidambaram expressed happiness over the fact that most schools and colleges have reopened, disregarding a call by one of the Hurriyat leaders.

“Government is happy to learn that most schools and colleges have reopened in Jammu and Kashmir and most students have gone back to schools and colleges today,” he said, adding “there was a call by one of the Hurriyat leaders to parents asking them not to send their children to schools and colleges.”

“How can any right thinking person pelt stones on school buses? I hope that such mischief will stop immediately,” he said.

“Anyone who has the interest of the children at heart cannot indulge in stone-pelting; nor should anyone support such mischievous attempts to interfere with the functioning of schools and colleges,” he added.

He further said: “I am confident that the few schools and colleges that remain closed today, presumably out of caution, will reopen tomorrow.

“I am also confident that the attendance will improve significantly tomorrow,” he added.

After remaining shut for three months, schools reopened in violence-hit Kashmir Valley on Monday.

The State government had on Sunday directed the staff at schools to be present in their establishments, a day after the Centre asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to reopen schools as part of an eight-point peace package for the Valley.

Transport is being provided to both teachers and students on eleven important routes in Srinagar.

Exams for Class 10 and Class 12 are to start in the last week of October and first week of November respectively.

Over 3.25 lakh students are registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education for secondary and senior secondary classes.

The recent eruption of violence has left the government searching for a new strategy to deal with the protests.

At least 93 people have died in the last three months. The Kashmir Valley has also been subjected to a series of shutdowns and frequent curfews during this period. (ANI)