Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Aug 25: Promises of statehood, a better future for the common citizen, and relief from suffering continue to be broken more than ever. Instead of improving, public hardships are increasing, and fundamental issues are becoming more severe. Compounding this situation, a intense political war has escalated in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the formation of the government led by the National Conference (NC).
After a year of awaiting relief and the restoration of statehood, the public has witnessed little more than an increase in praise and platitudes for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government. Meanwhile, opposition leaders—from the former Chief Minister to leaders of other political parties—appear focused on waging one political battle after another against the Omar Abdullah led government.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti led a street protest on Monday, demanding the return of Kashmiri prisoners and justice for those languishing in jails across the country. Raising slogans of “Bail, not Jail,” Mufti accused the government of denying detainees from the region their basic constitutional rights, noting that many have spent years in prison without fair or timely trials.
According to a Kashmir Despatch Correspondent, Mufti emphasised the urgent need for reforms, including speedy, time-bound trials and the mandatory production of the accused at every hearing. She advocated for the consistent application of constitutional safeguards to make bail the rule rather than the exception. She also demanded transparency in granting remission for life-term cases, stressed that parole and furlough should be treated as legal rights rather than privileges, and argued that medical bail must be recognised as a humanitarian necessity. Calling for the full implementation of jail manuals, she insisted that the dignity and rights of all prisoners must be upheld without discrimination.
The PDP chief warned that denying prisoners their rights only deepens alienation and mistrust. The march concluded peacefully, with party leaders vowing to continue their campaign until the government addresses the plight of Kashmiri prisoners and facilitates their reunion with families.
In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated, “If she is protesting, let her. However, it would have been more productive if she had gone to Delhi to speak with the leadership there, as all such issues are decided in the capital. As we did, we went to Delhi and raised these matters. If she still wants to protest, she can.”
The political conflict, however, extends beyond this single issue. For months, political battles between the Chief Minister, the former Chief Minister, and other leaders have been intensifying.
Last week, the political temperature in Kashmir rose sharply following the government’s decision to assume control of 215 schools previously administered by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). While the educational community reacted with optimism and relief, political parties seized on the decision as a new battleground, particularly on social media.
The move sparked a heated debate across the Union Territory, drawing criticism from opposition leaders aimed at the NC-led government. Former CM Mehbooba Mufti called the takeover of the nearly 215 Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT)-run schools “deeply unfortunate,” stating these institutions had maintained a rare balance between modern and Islamic education. “There are very few schools that provide regular education alongside Islamic teachings. Thousands of students, teachers, and families are connected with these institutions,” she said.
The PDP chief recalled that similar crackdowns were previously carried out against Jamaat-e-Islami and its assets. “I had hoped an elected government would stop such assaults on our institutions and culture. Instead, the present dispensation has only facilitated them,” she remarked.
Peoples’ Conference chief and Handwara MLA, Sajad Lone, also condemned the move. “Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government,” he stated in a social media post. He asserted that the elected government was a willing party to the order and accused them of “setting new standards in servility,” echoing his party’s past criticisms.
Although Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has remained largely silent on the issue, Education Minister Sakina Itoo stated that no one would be allowed to gamble with children’s futures and condemned what she termed “cheap politics” over schools associated with the FET network.
She clarified that false rumours were being spread about school closures. “People are being misled into thinking schools are shut. I personally visited many institutions on Saturday. They were open, running smoothly, and children were studying,” she said.
The Minister added that since 2019, the FET schools had operated without proper registration, management committees, or a legal framework. To address this, the government arranged temporary oversight until new committees are formed and necessary CID verification is completed.
Overall, the political establishment, especially the NC-led government, faces growing criticism for failing to deliver on promises made during election rallies, which has only exacerbated public suffering.
Notably, the NC-led government had repeatedly claimed it would restore statehood, but thus far, these claims have proven hollow as nothing has materialized on the ground.
Meanwhile, sources in the Union Home Ministry informed Kashmir Despatch that regarding statehood, the PM Modi-led BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are already committed to restoring it “at the right time.” Therefore, the repeated assertions by Omar Abdullah and other NC leaders are viewed as another attempt to mislead the public.
Sources further stated that since the Prime Minister himself is committed to restoration, Omar Abdullah is now leveraging the issue for his political grandstanding.
