Hurriyat chief vouches for safety of NIT's outstation students

Srinagar: Amid the NIT trouble, hardline Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday vouched for safety and security of outstation students at the institute even as he asked the Centre to ensure protection to Kashmiri students in various institutes outside the state.

"Our policy and our religion teaches us that we should not have any grudge or enmity against anybody on the basis of religion, race, caste or linguistics.

"If outside students are studying here, we should ensure that there is no harm done to them or any obstacle created in their pursuit for education," Geelani told reporters.

Geelani, who reached his Hyderpora residence after undergoing treatment for various ailments in Delhi for the past two months, expressed his displeasure over the happenings in the NIT.

"We will not tolerate such a situation which is against the teachings of our religion and culture," he said.

At the same time, the separatist leader said the engineering college belonged to the state but "unfortunately India extended its occupation" to the institute as well.

"It (engineering college) was made an all India college which is the main reason for the prevailing situation," he said, adding "despite this misadventure, we should ensure that there is no harm is done to the outside students."

He used the issue to accuse BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena and other right wing parties of harassing the students from Kashmir studying in various institutes outside the state.

"Our children are facing harassment and torture at the hands of RSS, BJP and Shiv Sena and other right wing groups outside the valley," Geelani said.

"Torture of Kashmiri students outside the state is a blot on the government. Unless they treat it, the blot will not vanish," he said while terming the frequent attacks on Kashmiri students as the biggest "weakness" of the government.

"It is the responsibility of the government of India to tackle attacks on Kashmiri students," he said.

He also appealed outside students not to indulge in any type of highhandedness with their classmates.

"They are your classmates and studying with you," he said calling for peaceful atmosphere in the educational institutions.