Concerned over the plight of students in the Kashmir valley following the closure of schools and colleges for the last three months due to unrest over the killing of Burhan Wani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi have asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday to expedite opening of educational institutions in the state. The PM raied the issue when Ms Mufti called on him here, their first meeting since India’s surgical strikes across the LoC. Mr Modi was of the view that the schools and colleges can start functioning soon as curfew has been lifted from amost all the affected areas of the Valley, sources told this newspaper. Both the leaders also discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the state in the aftermath of the surgical strikes. Quoting an official spokesperson of Ms Mufti, news agencies reported that she urged the PM to help de-escalate tension along the border with Pakistan. They also discussed about steps to reach out to the people of the state with “tangible” confidence-building measures to address their political, economic and developmental concerns.
