09/07/2025
Mir Bashir Condemns MLA Doda’s Remarks Against Education Minister
Says:“People Elect Leaders, Not Degrees”
Srinagar:
The Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has strongly condemned the recent remarks made by the MLA from Doda against the academic credentials of the Hon’ble Education Minister, Ms. Sakeena Masood Itoo. The statement has sparked widespread criticism from teachers across the Union Territory, who termed it an attack on the dignity of democratic institutions.
In a sharp statement, Mir Bashir Ahmad, UT General Secretary of JKTF and a senior member of the All India Secondary Teachers Federation, said:
“It is deeply unfortunate that an elected representative would resort to personal attacks against a sitting Education Minister. Questioning someone’s capability based solely on academic degrees reflects not only poor political maturity but also undermines the democratic process and institutional mechanisms that shape education policy.”
Mir Bashir emphasized that education reforms are never the outcome of a single individual but are driven by expert committees, institutional frameworks, and long-term vision. He added that if the MLA had genuine concerns, he should have used appropriate democratic platforms instead of resorting to public mockery.
He said the Forum firmly stands with Ms. Sakeena Masood Itoo, whose commitment to educational reforms is well-documented and widely acknowledged.
“Leadership is not limited to degrees. It is defined by action, vision, and service to the people,” Mir Bashir remarked, urging all public representatives to maintain dignity in political discourse.
“We expect our lawmakers to be role models for our youth, not to lower the standards of debate through personal slurs. Respect for constitutional offices is essential to uphold the sanctity of our democratic institutions ,he added.