DO YOUR JOB, DON’T GIVE US SERMONS ON EDUCATION: J&K TO ARMY CHIEF

No society accepts sermons on education from nonacademicians. Separatism would not be anywhere if army does its job well.

ALTAF BUKHARI , J&K education minister

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday lashed out at Army chief Bipin Rawat over his remarks about Kashmir schools, saying the ‘well-decorated officer’ should not give sermons on issues that are not his domain.

The state government’s retort was in response to Rawat’s statement that schools in the state were teaching two maps — India’s and Jammu and Kashmir’s — to the students, which he said was radicalising youth.

Rawat’s statement was criticised on social media with many pointing out that 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’t think he is an educationist that he will give sermons on education,” state education minister Altaf Bukhari said. “I don’t think any society accepts sermons on education from nonacademicians,” he added.

Bukhari said education was a state subject and “we know how to run our education system”.

“There are two flags, we have a state constitution (owing to the state’s special status), and maps are in every state. Every school in every state has 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 us what we are supposed to do. They have a responsibility. Let them do their responsibility (sic). If they do their job well, all problems will be solved,” Bukhari added.