Modi asks states to reach out to Kashmiri students

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Prime Minister Narednra Modi, while summing up the third meeting of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council today, urged upon the Chief Ministers present there to take special care in reaching out to students from the Kashmir valley studying in their respective states.

The Prime Minister’s remarks relating to the Valley students came after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti raised the point at the meeting, asking her counterparts to “make them (Kashmiri students) their ambassadors” in J&K.

Modi’s advice assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of thrashing of some Kashmiri students at Chittorgarh in Rajasthan and a hoarding in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh. A PMO statement, quoting the Prime Minister, said that in his closing remarks, he “urged states to reach out to these students (of J&K) from time to time”.

Modi also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state. “The Prime Minister suggested that states could organise events there,” the statement added.