Jammu-Kashmir State Education Department has accepted the Centre’s request to celebrate “Surgical Strike Day” by asking schools to conduct various activities to commemorate the day from September 28th to 30th.
Circular says, “Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has conveyed to organise a wide range of activities for the observance of Surgical Strike Day on 29th September 2018″.
Circular further added, “Accordingly, Principal Secretary, Home Department has directed to ensure celebrations of the day, by organising activities from 28th of September 2018 to 30th of September,2018 at various level across the state”.
What circular was forwarded by J&K Education Department?
School children are being ordered to celebrate “Surgical Strike Day” & officers are instructed to send compliance reports with video & photographic evidence. pic.twitter.com/zDZCOLZ7qm
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 27, 2018
The circular forwarded by Education Department says that all schools having NCC units shall organise a special parade and motivational speaking from ex-army personnel’s.
School children are asked to pledge their support to armed forces by writing letters and cards addressing them. A one-page report has to be sent by schools to the School Education Department mentioning how celebrations were conducted including the photos and videos.
Earlier a notice was issued by University Grants Commission (UGC); dated September 19th which stated that Surgical Strike Day would be celebrated on September 29th and advised Higher Educational Institutions to conduct various activities to commemorate the day.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had earlier forwarded this notice to State Government. State Government accepted the proposal by asking schools to commemorate the event.
The Union Human Resource Development minister, Prakash Javadekar, stated on Friday, September 21, regarding circular issued by University Grant Commission saying, “We have not made any compulsions on institutions or students. We have issued a program because of suggestions from many students & teachers that they need to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strike.”
The government has also sent notices to around 900 universities and 38000 colleges approximately.
Defense Minister Nirmala Sitaram said to ANI,” Two years of Surgical strikes; we are celebrating it because we want to tell people the kind of sacrifice and valour Indian Army Shows. In surgical strike we back at the enemy who was coward.”
Two years of #SurgicalStrike, we are celebrating it because we want to tell the people of India the kind of sacrifice and valour which the Indian Army shows. In the surgical strike, we have actually hit back at an enemy who was coward: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/oWqCpD7OT9
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2018
Why “Surgical Strike Day” celebrations?
Government is celebrating the second anniversary of surgical strikes on Pakistan launch pads.
Surgical strikes happened 11 days after Pakistan’s attacks on Uri, killing 17 Indian soldiers and injuring 30.
Indian government retaliated by entering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) killing several Pakistani Soldiers. India claimed that it had destroyed a headquarters and four launch pads killing around 20 Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan Government had rejected the occurrence of any such event claiming there had been only cross-border firing. The government has released video evidence showing army avenging for Uri attacks by bombarding Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
People’s Response
Many people have condemned celebrations of “Surgical Strike Day” not because they don’t value army but situation in Kashmir had not bettered since few weeks. Times Now reported, “The JNU President has launched a scathing attack at the government over the announcement of the Surgical Strike day, says that the UGC should mark ‘Jumla day’ instead as the NDA government has failed the people.”
The JNU President has launched a scathing attack at the government over the announcement of the Surgical Strike day, says that the UGC should mark ‘Jumla day’ instead as the NDA government has failed the people @Srinjoy_C shares more details #SurgicalStrikeDay pic.twitter.com/Sgehr50SpF
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 21, 2018
Last week, an encounter in Anantnag between Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) killed one soldier and three civilians. People’s condemnation is only due to celebrations without considering the current state. The situation is volatile in Kashmir as of now and the celebrations may trigger some more violence.
