Jammu and Kashmir Students Association Condemns Azad Kashmir Slogans at Jamia Millia Islamia

New Delhi, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) strongly condemned the appearance of ‘Azad Kashmir’ slogans on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia on Saturday. This incident coincides with ongoing protests by students advocating for the restoration of the student union and the organization of campus elections. The association has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter and urged the Jamia administration and Delhi police to identify those responsible and take appropriate legal action.

Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of JKSA, stated that legitimate democratic demands from students should not be undermined by slogans that have no place in their movement for rights, representation, and democratic participation.

“We do not support any slogans advocating the division of India, nor will we stand with those who speak of breaking the country. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and always will be. Such inflammatory slogans aim to derail the entire student movement. Those who wrote ‘Azad Kashmir’ on the walls of Jamia must be identified through a proper investigation, and legal action should be taken against them if found guilty,” Khuehami emphasized.

He further remarked that students involved in the ongoing movement at Jamia are raising valid concerns regarding their democratic rights, student representation, and the restoration of the student union. Their demands should be listened to and addressed through dialogue, rather than dismissed or diminished. The association condemned any attempts to divert the movement through divisive slogans or inflammatory messages that distract from students’ genuine concerns.

The JKSA highlighted that maintaining discipline, security, and a conducive study environment on campus is the responsibility of the university administration. They stressed that it is unjust to hold the entire student community accountable for the alleged slogans written by unknown individuals without verifying the facts.

Khuehami called for a comprehensive investigation following the emergence of such slogans. He urged the Jamia administration and Delhi police to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, review available CCTV footage, and determine who is responsible. Given that CCTV cameras are installed throughout the campus, it should be possible to identify the individuals behind the slogans and ascertain whether any outsiders were involved.

Concerns have also been raised about alleged unauthorized entries and stays by outsiders on campus over the past week. These allegations should be investigated based on evidence, and accountability must be established through a fair inquiry.

The association insisted that students’ demands for the restoration of the student union and the conduct of elections should be taken seriously and addressed positively. “These young people are the future of the country. Universities should promote democratic participation, critical thinking, and responsible citizenship, rather than allowing valid student demands to be overshadowed by controversies. If students’ concerns can be resolved through democratic processes, why should they be deprived of an elected representative body?” they stated.

The JKSA reiterated that students are merely asserting their democratic right to an elected student union. Instead of fulfilling these legitimate demands, leaders like Union Minister Giriraj Singh are using this incident to distract the public, malign the student community, and delegitimize their peaceful struggle for democratic representation.