In view of several Kashmiri students being attacked in various parts of the country, particularly in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all Chief Ministers to stay in touch with the Kashmiri youth in their states and take care of their interests.
He made the appeal during his closing remarks at the 3rd Meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog.
"The Prime Minister told all Chief Ministers to contact Kashmiri youth in their state. He told Chief Ministers to take care of interest of Kashmiri students," Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya said at a press conference after the meet.
PM Modi’s appeal came after J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti flagged at the meeting the issue of safety of Kashmiri students at colleges and institutes in different states.
The appeal came days after hoardings appeared in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut city asking Kashmiris to leave the state.
"'Kashmiriyon Uttar Pradesh chodo, varna...' (Kashmiris, leave UP or else...)" came up in Meerut and on the Delhi-Dehradun highway in the vicinity of colleges where Kashmiris study.
An official statement said that the Prime Minister, noting the invitation given by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, suggested that various states could organise events there.
"He also seconded the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's suggestion that states should take interest in the students from her state who are studying in other states. He urged states to reach out to these students from time to time," the statement said.
On Friday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had instructed chief ministers to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students and sought an advisory to states over the issue.
Over the last week, two Kashmiri students were assaulted in Rajasthan’s Mewar, and a research scholar was threatened in BITS Pilani.
