Srinagar , Jan 9 : Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday addressed a press conference expressing serious concern over the safety and well-being of students studying at Mata Vaishno Devi Colleges. She said the issue is alarming and cannot be treated lightly, as it directly relates to the security and future of students.
Mehbooba Mufti questioned the prevailing situation that forces students to feel insecure within their own state. “If our students are not safe in their own state, where will they go? And on what basis can we claim they will be safer outside the state?” she asked, terming it a serious and sensitive issue that requires immediate attention.
Following her remarks, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also made announcements on the matter. Mehbooba Mufti said the sequence of events clearly shows that the issue is genuine and pressing, and not something that can be brushed aside.
She emphasized that education spaces must remain safe, inclusive, and free from fear. She also appealed to all stakeholders to handle the matter responsibly and avoid giving it a communal or religious colour. “Our state should not be divided on religious sentiments. Such issues must be addressed with sensitivity, unity, and constitutional responsibility,” she said.
Mehbooba Mufti urged the government to take concrete steps to ensure the safety, dignity, and confidence of students, and to restore trust so that parents feel assured about their children’s future within the state.
