Govt rebukes students, says why protest when Kathua trial on

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 19

As student protests refuse to die, senior minister and Jammu and Kashmir Government spokesman Naeem Akhtar on Tuesday questioned the protests when all accused in the rape and murder of a minor girl had been arrested.

“What is the occasion for protests, stone-throwing when the case (at the police end) is solved, accused in jail and the trial is on? Shouldn't they be attending classes instead,” Akthar tweeted.

The minister said the protests were only hurting the image and interests of the state.

“What is there to protest about? The case is solved, chargesheet filed, accused in custody, trial on. Those who still pelt stones in the name of the poor girl of Kathua are only hurting the image and interests of the state,” he wrote in another tweet.

While the government in a bid to stop student protests has been closing schools, colleges and universities, students continue to take to the streets.

Another senior PDP minister Imran Ansari has also urged the students to concentrate on studies. “I would strongly urge my young students to please concentrate on their studies. Understand your anguish against #Kathua but a trial is on. Ministers have resigned. Justice will be delivered. My message to you --- pls study,” Ansari tweeted.

The protests also came in for censure by Director of Vigilance Javaid Gillani, who served as Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, during the 2016 unrest. “It is high time the students went back to their classrooms and stopped creating anarchy in the name of seeking justice for an unfortunate victim.”

“The chargesheet in the case has been filed in the court. In due course, the court would announce its verdict on the basis of the evidence presented before it. Those aggrieved with the verdict would have an option to go before a higher judicial forum. The due process of law would settle the issue and ensure justice is delivered. What are those on the street now protesting for? Wouldn’t the protests now be seen as an attempt to influence the judicial process? Public opinion should not be allowed to interfere with the judicial processes. Verdicts cannot be delivered on the streets. It is high time the students went back to their classrooms and stopped creating anarchy in the name of seeking justice for an unfortunate victim. Let them not become a tool to fulfil someone else’s agenda,” Gillani wrote in a Facebook post.