Mian Altaf, Ruhullah Mehdi call for rescheduling UGC-NET, IGNOU, SSB exams

Disapprove  prosecution of author Arundhati Roy and Dr. Sheikh Showkat under UAPA 

Srinagar,15 Jun: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Members of the Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad and Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi have implored the Central and State administration to show sensitivity towards the issues of the students. 
They have specifically urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to reschedule the UGC NET exam date, currently set for June 18, 2024, as it coincides with the celebration of Eid-ul-Azha, an important Islamic festival observed nationwide on June 17th and 18th, 2024. Additionally, they have requested the rescheduling of the IGNOU exams and the Supervisor SW exams conducted by SSB, which are both set for June 23, 2024.
The leaders said, “The current scheduling conflicts with the celebrations, potentially impacting students’ ability to participate fully in both their academic responsibilities and religious observances. They hope that the authorities will consider their appeal and make the necessary adjustments to support the students in balancing their academic and personal commitments.”
In their strong disapproval of the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy and Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain under the UAPA, the party MPs said, “The use of anti-terror laws to suppress dissent and criminalize speech is deeply concerning. It is essential to uphold the fundamental right of every citizen to free speech as guaranteed by Article 19. It is also imperative to note that this permission has been granted 14 long years after the alleged speech took place. In the intervening years the speech has been all but forgotten & didn’t vitiate the atmosphere in J&K. This prosecution will serve no purpose except perhaps to show that the hardline stance of the BJP/Union Govt won’t change despite the electoral setback they recently faced.”