1300 schools were 'closed' by state government in Jammu: JKNPP

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today accused the state government of "closing" 1300 primary and middle schools in the region in the name of "rationalization".

"We condemn the state government for its decision to close down 1300 primary and middle schools in Jammu region in the name of rationalization," chairman of JKNPP Harsh Dev Singh said.

He also accused the BJP MLAs and ministers from Jammu of being "silent" on the issue.

Describing the alleged move on closure of schools as highly retrograde, he said that it would adversely affect the educational activity especially in the remote and far flung areas of the state where thousands of school going children will be forced to discontinue their studies.

Singh said that JKNPP had launched the 'Fight for Jammu' mission after the BJP's betrayal of the Jammu's cause and its consecutive surrenders on all Jammu related issues before its coalition partner PDP.

He said that the party had held three protest demonstrations near the Parliament House for restoration of AIIMS besides agitating on the issue in various districts of the state.

He claimed that it was JKNPP which held repeated protests outside Pakistan High commission in the national capital for "aiding", "abetting" militancy and "sponsoring" terrorism and besides its attempts to revive militancy in the state.

He said that JKNPP was paying the price for raising the issues of Jammu's "neglect" and "deprivation" in various fields and for highlighting the omissions and commissions of the present dispensation as the security cover of majority of its leaders had been "withdrawn".

He said further said that his party would continue to fight against the Jammu's neglect and bias and shall not be subdued by the "evil machinations of Saffron brigade who are vainly attempting to suppress the Panthers leaders, workers and their siblings in the government service by their demagoguery politics".