The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked Education Department to celebrate ‘surgical strike day’ in schools from September 28 to 30 and submit evidence of celebrations in the form of photos and videos by October 1.
According to a circular by Secretary, Education Department, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had asked the state authorities to organise wide range of activities to mark ‘Surgical Strike Day’ on Friday.
“Accordingly, Principal Secretary, Home Department has issued directions to ensure celebration of the day by organising activities from September 28 to 30 at various levels across the state,” the circular stated.
“All the schools having NCC units shall organise special parade following motivational lectures/ talks by inviting war veterans or other related persons. School children to pledge their support for armed forces by writing letter/cards to them, addressed to the nearest Army formation,” the circular said, adding that “Schools shall arrange blank cards for children for writing/creating messages.”
The Education Department authorities have been directed to send one page report of the activities along with pictures and videos to the office of the secretary through director, school education.
While sharing the circular, former Chief Minister of J&K and opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted: “School children are being ordered to celebrate “Surgical Strike Day” & officers are instructed to send compliance reports with video & photographic evidence (sic).”
Saluting valour
The Indian Army had on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, 2016, conducted ‘surgical strikes’ in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the killing of 19 soldiers in a deadly terror attack on an Army camp near the Line of Control in Uri town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district 10-days earlier.
As part of the second anniversary of the ‘surgical strikes’, several events are scheduled across the country to commemorate the valour of the armed forces.