Srinagar, April 27: PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday strongly criticised the government’s decision to declare Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom in Shopian as an unlawful entity under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, describing the move as a “flagrant injustice” to poor and underprivileged sections of society.
The institution, located at Imam Sahib in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, has reportedly been declared unlawful by the authorities over alleged links with individuals affiliated with a banned organization. The action was taken under the UAPA, a stringent law invoked in cases related to unlawful activities and security concerns.
Reacting to the development, Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the government’s action reflected prejudice and ill intention. In a post on X, she said the Jammu and Kashmir government had become a “mute bystander” and a “timid enabler” of what she termed as repeated assaults on the identity and dignity of J&K.
She said declaring Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom an unlawful entity was deeply unfair to students from weaker economic backgrounds who depended on such institutions for affordable education. According to her, the institution had served as a centre of quality learning for children who could not afford expensive schooling.
The former chief minister further claimed that the institution had produced reputed doctors and professionals who had served the nation with dedication. She said banning such educational and charitable institutions without solid evidence of anti-national activity raises serious concerns and creates fear among communities that rely on them.
The government order was issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on April 24, based on a dossier submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Shopian. The dossier reportedly pointed towards alleged illegal activities at Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom.
According to the order, there were “credible inputs and evidence on record” indicating sustained and covert linkages of the institution with Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned by the Government of India in 2019.
She further argued that institutions serving poor and marginalized students should not be targeted unless there is transparent and conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.