Omar Guardian of Youth Rights, Interests: NC

‘Has asked CMs of all State’s to ensure safety of J&K Students’

‘Condemn the harassment of Kashmiri Students in Noida’

Srinagar: National Conference Spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu has said that Omar Abdullah’s hand-holding of the youth and students is above considerations of politics and votes and that the NC Working President has always reached out to students and youth in distress, both within and outside the State.

“Omar Abdullah has ensured that the youth of J&K have a sense of support by never hesitating to take up their issues and ensuring that no injustice is done to them. The Chief Minister ensured that the sedition charges against students from J&K studying in Meerut were withdrawn without any delay and personally monitored the situation till the sedition charges were dropped,” Mattu said according to a statement issued to KNS.

Junaid Mattu said that Omar Abdullah deputed a high level team to Meerut in the wake of the situation that had developed there a couple of months ago. Junaid Mattu said “54 students out of 67 have been permitted to attend their classes and a decision on the remaining 13 students will be reached within two weeks. We have asked the University to keep us in the loop and give us detailed findings of their investigation including on what basis punitive action has been taken against particular students.”

The NC Spokesman while condemning the incident of harassment of Kashmiri students at a University in Noida reiterated NC Working President and J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s demand that Chief Ministers of all States ensure the safety and well-being of students from J&K studying in educational institutions in their State. “The Chief Minister has unambiguously and unequivocally stated that such harassment is not acceptable and the University authorities as well as the State Administration in Uttar Pradesh should either give these students a sense of safety or admit their reluctance to do so,” Mattu said.

Junaid Mattu said that under the directions of NC Working President and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a helpline has also been established at the Resident Commissioner’s Office in Delhi so that students can immediately reach out to the State Administration in case of any trouble. “We are strengthening our reaction mechanisms and outreach programs to ensure that students studying outside have access to a more sound grievance redress and SOS mechanism and significant steps have been taken to achieve this goal,” Mattu added.

“Those who are now feigning sympathy for J&K students studying outside the State for political mileage did precious little to help the students in Meerut or elsewhere. They used these students as pawns in their political battles and forgot them within two days. Today they are again out to exploit the situation in Noida to the disadvantage of the particular students,” Mattu said while adding that National Conference was committed to the hand-holding of youth and will not allow a sense of fear and insecurity crop in.