Srinagar, Aug 23(KNS): Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference President and Handwara lawmaker Sajad Ghani Lone on Saturday said the recent government action of temporarily taking over 215 schools affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) is a decision rooted in the political history of the region and has involved participation from Kashmiri leadership across decades.

Addressing a press conference, Lone said the banning of religious organizations and the takeover of educational institutions raises questions about the democratic process.

He said the legal framework for such actions was first created in 1983, when Farooq Abdullah’s government passed the relevant law, which received the Governor's assent on March 23 of that year.

He said the first time this law was used was in 1990, during Governor's rule under Jagmohan, when FAT was banned for the first time. He added that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a Kashmiri leader, was then the Union Home Minister, and played a role in the process. The ban was reimposed in 2019, but no action followed, he said.

Lone said the yesterday enforcement took place only after the presence of a Kashmiri partner in the current administration.

He said without such a partner, bans are rarely implemented. He added that those condemning the current ban should reflect on their own past actions, including parties that supported or created the legal instruments for such steps.

He said in 2010, an SRO passed by the then government also laid the legal ground for institutional takeovers, and that many of the mechanisms now being used were created by successive local governments.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe added that the Centre has rarely acted alone in such cases and has always moved forward with local collaboration.

Lone said he was not aiming to score political points but wanted to inform the people of Kashmir that enforcement of such bans has historically depended on cooperation between the Centre and local Kashmiri leadership. He said the FAT schools do not operate in secrecy and conduct regular classes from morning to evening.

He said if the government has national security concerns, they should present evidence. If not, he demanded that the takeover order be rescinded, especially given the impact on students’ education.
Lone said the Chief Minister has the authority to reverse the decision and does not need approval from the Cabinet. He said if she has concerns about the behaviour of officers, she can communicate directly and act.

He added that successive local governments have made decisions or supported policies that are now being condemned by the same parties.

He also said that current leaders are justifying such actions while being unable to push back, despite having the authority to resign in protest. He said administrative transfers and actions are often influenced by political convenience and personal interest.

Lone added that bans in Jammu and Kashmir have never been implemented without the support of local political stakeholders and that this pattern continues today.(KNS).