The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has Condemned the All India Hindu Mahasabha for their objection over prayers inside the ground premises of Sanskrit University in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. In a Statement National Convenor of Association Nasir Khuehami said that All India Hindu Mahasabha has threatened the University Administration to recite Hanuman Chalisa if action is not taken against Kashmiri students who offered Namaz.
Outraged by this blatant discrimination, Khuehami, emphasized that offering Namaz in ground premises is not a criminal offense and raised questions on religious freedom and tolerance. With around 82 Kashmiri students currently enrolled in the university under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme, the Association takes a firm stand against the suppression of cultural diversity.
Khuehami added that students from J&K were given opportunities to study outside the state to get exposure to different things, and such a reaction would estrange and alienate kashmiri students. The University must provide a safe place for these students to pray during this pious month of the year for Muslim students. “If the University or Mahasabha officials have concerns about Kashmiri students performing Namaz in the university’s ground premises, they should offer them an alternative place and space where they can fulfill their religious obligations to maintain peace and harmony in the University, he further added.
National Spokesperson of Association Unmar Jamal has warned that if any untoward incidents happen to Kashmiri students in the university in the future, the Mahasabha members will be solely responsible. India is a secular country where every citizen has fumdamental right under article 25 of constitution to pratice his religion. Prayer being one of the five pillars of Islam, stoping students from performing this religious obligation, is direct voilation of their fundamental right to practice their religion, he said.
Jamal said that, India is very diverse country, it is important to understand and to accommodate the religious practices of all our students to the best of a institutions abilities. We should learn to respect each others rights including right to practice ones religion, he added.
