Srinagar, January 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government led by Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday lashed out at Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat over his remarks about Kashmir schools, saying that the “well-decorated officer” should not give sermons on issues that do not fall in his domain.
The latest development took place after Rawat’s statement that schools in Jammu and Kashmir were teaching two maps – India’s and Jammu and Kashmir’s – to the students, which he said was radicalising youth.
The Indian Army chief was criticised on social media with many pointing out that students in all schools in the country are taught about the two maps, one of the country and the other of their state’s.
“Mr Bipin Rawat is a respected and well-decorated officer of this country. He is a professional and I have no doubt about his professionalism. But I don’t think he is an educationist that he will give sermons on education,” state education minister Altaf Bukhari said.
He further added, “I don’t think any society accepts sermons on education from non-academicians. We know how to run our education system.”
“There are two flags, we have a state constitution (due to J&K’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 to media.
“If the army does its job well, separatism would not be anywhere,” he said.
“I will be very happy if Bipin Rawat do what he is supposed to do and leave us what we are supposed to do. The have a responsibility. Let them do their responsibility, I don’t think separatism will be anywhere. They do their job well, all problem will be solved,” Bukhari added.
Addressing the media on the eve of Army Day on Friday, Bipin Rawat linked the two-flag issue with militancy.