Anti-India elements want to divert attention of J-K youth: MoS HRD

Minister of State for Human Resources and Development (HRD) Mahendra Nath Pandey on Monday said that some anti-India elements do not want the youth of the valley to join the mainstream according to the government's initiatives.

"Our government under the leadership of the honourable Prime Minister Modi ji wants to bring the students of Jammu and Kashmir into the mainstream. Due to this initiative, some youth from Srinagar came forward. But there are some anti-India elements, who want to take these youth in the wrong direction. Our government won't allow this," Pandey said.

He condemned the incident of schools being burnt in the valley and said that the Centre as well as the state government would take stringent steps against such people.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday took suo-moto cognisance of schools being burnt in the valley and directed the authorities of all concerned districts to take all preventive and protective measures for school buildings from unknown enemies of education.

The division bench of the High Court directed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Brij Raj Sharma, Director General of Police K. Rajendra Kumar and Director School Education, Kashmir to issue necessary instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and CEOs of concerned districts to take all preventive and protective measures.

The bench also directed the three top officers to remain present during the next hearing on November 7.

Three schools have been set on fire in the last 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.