The J&K government on Thursday announced 10-day summer vacations, despite pleasant weather, to coincide with the protest calendar of the militant United Jehad Council (UJC) on the first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. In the past, summer vacations were announced in the third week of July for schools in the valley.
A government order said all educational institutions up to the higher secondary level in Kashmir “shall observe summer vacation from July 6 to July 16”.
As schools and colleges remain restive in the Kashmir valley this year, the vacations starkly coincide with the UJC's weeklong protest programme starting July 8, the day Hizbul commander Wani was killed in an encounter last year, fuelling a five-month long unrest that left over 93 civilians dead and more than 15,000 injured. The UJC has called for a shut down on July 8 and 13.
Independent legislator Engineer Rasheed said there was no justification for the vacations.
‘Working days lost’
“Most working days in educational institutions have been wasted due to law and order problems. The government seems to have given into Syed Salahuddin’s protest calendar,” said MLA Rasheed. He said vacations were usually declared when the temperatures reach its peak, “However, this year, the temperatures are comparatively moderate.”
Netizens also took potshots at the government. “Summer vacations with students wearing woollens comes as a surprise,” wrote a Facebook user.
