Srinagar: 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, the National Convenor of the 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 on 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, he said.
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, he said.
“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 added.
National Spokesperson of the 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 a fundamental right under article 25 of the Constitution to practice his religion. Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam, stopping students from performing this religious obligation, in a direct violation of their fundamental right to practice their religion,” he said.
Jamal said that India is a very diverse country and it is important to understand and accommodate the religious practices of all our students to the best of the institution’s abilities. “We should learn to respect each others’ rights including the right to practice one’s religion,” he added.

KR Desk