PDF Chief Demands Special Flights for Evacuated Students
Srinagar : President Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front (J&K PDF) and former minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, has conveyed his profound shock and disappointment regarding the Jammu and Kashmir government’s failure to welcome students who arrived at Delhi Airport early Thursday morning after being evacuated from Iran.
In a statement released from the party headquarters, which described the situation as “highly unfortunate,” Hakeem said that while state governments across India warmly greeted their respective students at the airport, there was no official representative from the Jammu and Kashmir administration present to receive the students from the Union Territory. “It is distressing to observe that not a single officer or representative from J&K was available at Delhi Airport to welcome our children. The students were left without any assistance, guidance, or support. Other states made appropriate arrangements, but our students were entirely overlooked,” Yaseen remarked. Emphasizing the difficulties encountered by the students, Yaseen vehemently opposed the proposal to transport them back to the Valley in deluxe RTC buses. “How can these students—who are exhausted and stressed after days of uncertainty—be expected to travel over 600 kilometers by road? It is inhumane,” he stated, insisting that special flights should be arranged immediately to return them to Srinagar. He further mentioned that the parents of the students were extremely worried back home and anticipated a more compassionate and responsive approach from the government. “There seems to be a total breakdown in communication within the J&K administration. Even if there was a protocol issue concerning the Lieutenant Governor, someone from the administration could have gone to receive them. This is unacceptable,” he asserted. Hakeem also expressed his dismay over the absence of basic facilities for the students at the airport. “There were no sleeping arrangements, no proper statements from officials, and no organized support. It was chaotic, and it did not reflect positively on the functioning of the UT government,” he added. Reiterating his demand, the PDF Chief urged the Government to act swiftly and responsibly by arranging immediate air transport for the safe return of these students to Kashmir and called for accountability from those in charge of the evacuation plan.
