SRINAGAR – Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday lashedout at Army chief Bipin Rawat over his remarks about Kashmir schools,saying the ‘well-decorated officer’ should not give sermons on issues thatare not his domain, Hindustan Times has reported.The state government’s retort was in response to Rawat’s statement hatschools in the state were teaching two maps — India’s and Jammu andKashmir’s — to the students, which he said was radicalising youth.
Rawat’s statement was criticised on social media with many pointing outthat students in all schools in the country are taught about the two maps,the country’s and the state’s.
“The army chief is a respected and well-decorated officer of this country.He is a professional. I have no doubt on his professionalism. But I don’tthink he is an educationist that he will give sermons on education,” stateeducation minister Altaf Bukhari said.
“I don’t think any society accepts sermons on education fromnon-academicians,” he added.
Bukhari said education was a state subject and “we know how to run oureducation system”.
“There are two flags, we have a state constitution (owing to the state’sspecial status), and maps are in every state. Every school in every statehas a state map because you explain it to them,” Bukhari said.
“Separatism would not be anywhere” if army does its job well, he said.
“I will be very happy if they do what they are supposed to do and leave uswhat we are supposed to do. They have a responsibility. Let them do theirresponsibility (sic). If they do their job well, all problems will besolved,” Bukhari added.
Addressing the media on the eve of Army Day on Friday, Bipin Rawat hadlinked the two-flag issue with militancy.
“…Why do we need a separate map for J&K? What does it teach the children?Most misguided youth come from schools where they are being radicalised,”he had said.
The army chief had also said that some control has to be exercised overmadrassas and mosques that “spread misinformation”.
Bukhari said there was no harm in getting education from madrassas.“Education has its own domains. Madrassas also give education. There is noharm. Education is education. People go to China to learn,” the ministersaid.