The Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the education department from giving any direction to students or staff to participate in political programmes or rallies. The order in this regard was issued through a circular by the School Education Department. The ban comes after the education department faced criticism from various quarters over a circular that directed Poonch officials to attend the RSS-affiliated ABVP's Tiranga rally. The circular was issued by the Poonch Chief Education Officer, who directed heads of several schools to send 40-50 students and two teachers to the rally.

The circular has been criticised by the PDP, which alleged that the government was using education as a "tool of propaganda". The latest circular said, "All officers including Chief Educational Officers, Regional Educational Officers and Heads of all school institutions under the School Education Department are directed not to permit or direct students or staff (including teachers of all categories) to participate in any political programme, rally etc. organised by any political party/organisation." 

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister posted the circular

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo posted the circular on twitter. It directs all Chief Education Officers to “strictly monitor” that no directive of any district authority violates the circular. “In case of any such deviation, the concerned Chief Education Officer shall immediately bring it to the notice of the concerned Director of School Education for further instructions,” it added.

Last Friday, PDP leader Waheed Parra had criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying earlier he used to condemn such orders before the elections, but "this apparent change" is his only "so-called achievement" in the last 100 days. "The order by the Jammu and Kashmir government's education department to support the ABVP rally, in which students were forced to participate, was condemned by Omar Abdullah before the elections. Yet, now this apparent change under the government is his only so-called 'achievement' in the last 100 days," he had said on X