Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 | Last Update : 07:59 AM IST
Choose books, not arms, says Army Chief
Rawat said: “They (the youth) should either have a laptop or a book. Whatever time they get they should devote to studies”.
New Delhi: With a deadly spiral of violence wrecking generations in troubled Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday exhorted students in the state to choose laptops and books to help end the cycle of violence.
Addressing a group of Kashmiri students, who were supported by the Army and had cleared the IIT entrance examination, the General said their success was not easy and now they have become a shining example for the youth in the Valley.
Asking the students to return to their roots after they complete their studies and help in the development of the state to alleviate the hardships faced by the people, Gen. Rawat said: “They (the youth) should either have a laptop or a book. Whatever time they get they should devote to studies”.
“How many generations will see this gunfire and smoke from explosives? … generations have been destroyed due to this,” the Chief said. “So you have militants on one side and security forces on the other. How long will we stay in this atmosphere? We have to put an end to it. We wish that peace is restored there and we carry out our daily work without any problem”.
Saying the “situation was good” during his first posting in the state in 1981-82, he said it started deteriorating during his second posting between 1991 and 1993. The General also served in the state from 2006-2008 and 2010-12. “Kashmir is heaven. We have to again bring it to that level. The world flocks to see the Valley, but people are not able to come because of the tension,” he said, adding the recent spell of unrest has led to decline in tourism in the Valley.
The Army, along with Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership (CSRL), conducts ‘Super 40’ programme in J&K with the aim to train students in the state to help them clear IIT entrance test. Thirty-five students enrolled for this programme, of which 24 cleared JEE Mains and are eligible for a seat in the NITs.
Of the 24, nine passed JEE Advanced, an entrance test. The remaining 11 have passed the Jammu and Kashmir’s CET.
