Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 19: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, Kashmir, on Monday decided to postpone its maiden convocation after the event got mired in controversy. At least a dozen of IUST's former students had announced they would not accept their degrees from Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani as a mark of protest against "the current state of uncertainty and insecurity in J&K."
The protesting students included Khursheed Majid (MBA), Rouf Ahmad Zargar (MBA), Arsalan Khan (MCA), Javaid Ahmad Naikoo (Journalism), Rouf Ahmad Sofi (MCA), Zubair Ahmad Bicho (MBA), Kaiser Younis Rather (B-Tech Food Technology), Mateen Ahmad (MCA), Syed Tajamul Geelani (MBA), Asim Irshad (MCA) and Qurat-Ul-Ain. "We the alumni of various departments of IUST are writing this to register our protest against the current state of uncertainty and insecurity in J&K, by staying away from the maiden convocation of the university, for which the (HRD) Minister has also been invited." "Since the (HRD) Minister is representative of the Central government, we deem it unjust and inappropriate to receive our academic honours through her," the protesting students said.
One of the protesting students told Early Times, "As conscious citizens, we, like other sections of society in our state and other parts of country, are appalled and anguished to see the innocent citizens being attacked by extremist elements that are associated with particular political and religious groups, or enjoy their patronage." He said, "In our state, the fascist forces are equally having a field day. The attack on a truck in Udhampur which resulted into killing of a man and severe injuries to two others, has engulfed whole state in grief. The murder of a civilian, who was out to earn his living, has caused fear and insecurity among the people from Kashmir who are living outside for their jobs and studies." |
