Srinagar, August 05 (KNS): Coming in support of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in their protest against the State government’s decision to make screening test compulsory for the teachers who have obtained their degrees through distance mode, National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah Wednesday asked Education Minister Nayeen Akhter to first pass his test before people.
“We never accepted he (Nayeen Akhter) is eligible for being a minister. He himself has not cleared any test before people. Let him take his test before making a test compulsory for ReT teachers,” he said while talking to media person on sidelines of a function to start party’s membership drive in Anantnag today.
Stating that ReT teachers have played a key role in reviving the education sector in the state, particularly in far flung areas, Omar said they should not be victimized. “If one or two ReT teachers are below par, train them. But victimising every ReT teacher, who are highly qualified and competent, is a grave injustice, and we will not allow this to happen,” he said, adding the fact was half of the government schools will have to close in absence of ReT teachers.
On AIIMS controversy in Jammu, the former chief minister said that National Conference is in favour of granting additional premier medical institute to winter capital region. “We have already welcomed an AIIMS for Kashmir and are in favour of having the same for Jammu too. The people of Jammu are protesting for past many weeks for AIIMS.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelNow if they are given a separate AIIMS, it would be fruit of their struggle and not any favour by the government,” he said, adding that his government always believed in equitable development and “that is why two central universities were given to the two regions during his tenure without making people to come on roads.”
On allegations levelled by some BJP leaders that NC workers were behind raising ISIS flags in Srinagar, Omar said such allegation carry no weight. “If BJP really has a solid proof that NC workers were behind such activities, arrest them and let law take its own course. They (BJP) are in power both in state and at the centre, so why are they not coming clear in this,” he said.
Omar added that people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing lot of problems due to non-performance of the state government. “We have been making government aware about the issues faced by people both inside and outside the Assembly. We have also come on roads in support of peoples’ demands and we will continue doing that,” he said, adding government has failed people of the state.
Earlier, Omar kick started the party’s membership drive from both Kulgam and Anantnag districts by holding separate functions at both the townships. NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, MLAs Abdul Majeed Larnoo, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, MLC Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri and Nasir Aslam Wani accompanied the former chief minister.