Convener News Desk
New Delhi, Dec 19: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) on Friday met Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi in New Delhi and raised a range of issues concerning students from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh pursuing education across the country.
The delegation was led by JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami, along with other office-bearers of the Association.
During the meeting, the JKSA strongly pitched for the establishment of an Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) offshoot centre in Jammu and Kashmir, offering professional and integrated programmes such as MBA, LLB, BA-LLB, B.Ed, M.Ed, Computer Applications and Social Sciences.
Drawing parallels with AMU’s existing off-campus centres at Kishanganj, Malappuram and Murshidabad, the Association said such an institution would significantly expand higher education opportunities for students from rural, remote and conflict-affected areas, while also contributing to regional development and social mobility.
The delegation also demanded reservation of seats for students from Jammu & Kashmir in every academic programme at AMU, including the proposed J&K campus, on the lines of the quota extended to J&K students at Jamia Millia Islamia. The issue of rationalisation of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir and the need to ensure equitable access to educational and employment opportunities was discussed in detail.
Highlighting the acute accommodation crisis at AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia, Khuehami sought the construction of separate boys’ and girls’ hostels exclusively for students from Jammu & Kashmir, fully funded by the J&K government. He said the lack of secure and affordable accommodation forces many students into unsafe private housing or compels them to abandon their studies midway.
The Association also flagged the challenges faced by Kashmiri students, migrant workers, shawl vendors and dry fruit sellers in states such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
It demanded the appointment of dedicated liaison and nodal officers in every state to address incidents of intimidation and harassment, monitor student welfare, and act as a bridge between students, university authorities, the J&K administration and the Centre.
Describing the interaction as “constructive and meaningful”, Khuehami thanked the MP for prioritising student concerns and urged the establishment of a special grievance redressal cell at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University to address discrimination-related complaints and strengthen institutional engagement with students from Jammu & Kashmir.
Responding to the delegation, MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi assured full support and said he would raise the issues in Parliament and pursue them with the Centre, concerned state governments and the Jammu & Kashmir administration. He said the demands would be examined on merit and taken up for early resolution.
The MP also appreciated JKSA’s sustained work on student welfare, acknowledging its role in crisis intervention, advocacy and as a key youth platform amplifying student voices from Jammu and Kashmir at the national level.
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