Students in Poonch forced to attend Indian flag rally
‘Using education as a propaganda tool’: PDP condemns Hindutva agenda
#EnforcingHindutvaIdeology
Jammu: In a bid to use educational platforms in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to promote ideological narratives that align with the Hindutva agenda, students in Poonch district were forced to participate in an Indian flag rally organized by the RSS-affiliated student organization, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the directive came from the Chief Education Officer of Poonch, who instructed heads of government and private schools to ensure the attendance of students and teachers at the event, which took place on Thursday.
The move sparked outrage, with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) stating that the IIOJK administration was using education as a propaganda tool. PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticized the authorities for compelling students to attend an event orchestrated by a Hindutva organization. In a post on X, she said, “The J&K Education Department, under the NC government, has made it mandatory for students from private and public schools in Poonch to attend an ABVP rally that normalizes anti-Muslim bigotry. Using education as a propaganda tool by forcing students into ideological events is both unacceptable and condemnable.”
PDP leader and MLA from Pulwama, Waheed Para, also lambasted the National Conference-led administration, accusing it of abandoning its promises. He pointed out that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who once opposed such coercive measures, now appears complicit in facilitating them.
Para added, “The NC government has failed to deliver on key commitments, including the restoration of Article 370, release of political prisoners, and the rollback of draconian laws like PSA and AFSPA. U-turns and betrayal remain the hallmark of this administration.”
Observers believe such moves are part of a broader strategy to reshape the sociopolitical landscape of the occupied territory while undermining the identity and aspirations of its people.
