J&K Education System At Fault Says Army Chief; Seeks Control Over Mosques And Madrasas

Chief of the Indian Army Staff Bipin Rawat has called for “some control” over mosques and madrasas in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). He sought a major revamp of the education system in the border state to deal with a disinformation campaign propagated by the social media and government schools.

The Army Chief said that steps to exercise a little control on mosques and madrasas to stem the flow of disinformation were being considered. Rawat expressed concern over government schools in Kashmir using separate map of the state and India, sowing the thought among children that J&K had a separate identity.

“The damage done to us is through the social media. A very large amount of disinformation campaign is being spread in J&K to radicalise the youth through the social media and schools,” he said. Madrasas and mosques were passing incorrect information to students. “I think some controls have to be exercised there and that is what we are looking at,” he said.

The Army Chief did not elaborate the kind of control that is required on such institutions. Pointing out that those who pelted stones at the Army were youth from government schools, he said: “The basic, grassroots problem lies in the way education in J&K  government schools has been corrupted.’’

Rawat said students from schools like Delhi Public School were not found involved in activities like stone-pelting. “That is why the goodwill schools run by the Army are accorded higher status,” he said, adding that opening more public and CBSE schools was the way forward.