'School sermons': J&K minister asks Army Chief to stay off education

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari asked the Army on Saturday to confine its role to security-related issues and "not make unnecessary comments beyond its constitutional mandate". The sharp reaction came a day after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said the education system in Jammu and Kashmir's government schools has been corrupted.

"If you go to any Kashmir school you will find two maps — one of India and the other of J&K. Why should there be a separate map of J&K? Then there should be a map of every state," Rawat had said. "This leads children into believing that I am part of this country, but I also have a separate identity."

"He (General Rawat) is a professional I have no doubts on his professionalism. I do not think he is an educationist and he will give sermons on education. I do not think any society accepts sermons on education from non-academicians. I will welcome sermons from academicians on how to run the education system," said Bukhari.

Bukhari said trespassing the defined mandates tantamount to committing brazen injustice with duties assigned to people by the Constitution.

"I think those sermonising us should do their duties in a more professional manner so as to ease the sufferings of the common man in Jammu and Kashmir. Army has its own role and let them play the same with utmost responsibility," he said.