The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association on Thursday urged everyone to maintain calm and refrain from engaging in any form of violence or retaliation. In a statement, National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, emphasized the importance of addressing such incidents through the legal provisions in place regarding blasphemy.
He said that similar incidents have occurred previously, referencing an offensive post by a student of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) a few months ago. Khuehami expressed deep concern over the disrespectful nature of the comments, stating that such remarks are not only offensive but also have the potential to disrupt the harmonious fabric of society.
He emphasized that These acts not only hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims but also have the tendency to cause commotion and disrupt peace. He unequivocally denounced any act that seeks to insult or demean religious figures, especially the revered Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and appealed to the students to maintain calm.
He further highlighted the importance of educational institutions fostering environments that promote respect and understanding among students of diverse backgrounds. He underscored that students need to inculcate the values of mutual respect, tolerance, and coexistence among themselves.
He appreciated the statement of IGP Kashmir, in which he affirmed the police’s commitment to maintaining religious harmony and not allowing anyone to hurt the sentiments of any community. The IGP made it clear that the police would not tolerate any attempts to harm the beliefs or matters related to any religion or sect.
Khuehami added that such acts are repeatedly committed and often go unpunished, but with the IGP’s intervention, an FIR (13/24) under sections 153, 153A, 295A, and 505(2) of the IPC has been registered at the Karan Nagar police station. He added that this action would set a strong precedent for the future. He thanked the IGP Kashmir for the immediate intervention and registering the FIR, noting that it will set a precedent for the future.
However, he criticized the college management, whether it is NIT or GMC Srinagar, for their strategy of closing institutions and asking students to leave whenever such incidents occur. He argued that these strategies are ineffective and called for strict action to be taken immediately whenever such incidents occur to prevent law-and-order situations from emerging.
