National News
Minister Sakina Itoo Meets Punjab Governor; Discusses Safety of J&K Students and Business Community in Wake of Pahalgam Attack Chandigarh, 26 April 2025: Smt Sakeena Itoo, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, today called on the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, at Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh. During the meeting, the Minister raised key concerns regarding the safety and well-being of students and members of the business community from Jammu & Kashmir currently residing in Punjab and Chandigarh, in the aftermath of the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam. She requested the Governor to ensure that adequate measures are taken to instil a sense of security among the affected communities. The Governor assured the Minister of full cooperation from both the Punjab and Chandigarh administrations, affirming that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the safety and welfare of J&K residents and students. The meeting was also attended by the Director General of Police, Punjab, Shri Gaurav Yadav, and the Director General of Police, Chandigarh, Shri Surendra Singh Yadav. Later in the day, the Minister held a separate meeting with the Chief Secretary of Punjab, Shri K A P Sinha, to further discuss measures to safeguard the interests of J&K students, traders, and professionals in the region. The Additional Chief Secretary, Home Affairs, Punjab, Shri Alok Shekhar, was also present. During these deliberations, the Minister reiterated the importance of proactive outreach and security reassurances for the J&K community. Both the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary assured the Minister of continued cooperation and support from the Punjab Government, reaffirming their commitment to the welfare of J&K residents currently based in Punjab and Chandigarh. Minister Sakeena Itoo’s visit to Chandigarh was undertaken on the direction of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Omar Abdullah, as part of the Government’s efforts to provide support to its citizens across India following the Pahalgam incident. In the course of her visit, the Minister engaged directly with a cross-section of J&K students and business professionals based in Punjab. She listened attentively to their concerns related to personal safety, emotional well-being, and social climate in the aftermath of the attack. Several students and individuals also communicated with the Minister telephonically to share their experiences and seek reassurance. Smt Itoo conveyed the unwavering commitment of the Jammu & Kashmir Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to the welfare and protection of its citizens, regardless of where they reside in the country. She encouraged the students and community members to make use of the official helplines already circulated and assured them of all necessary assistance. As part of her itinerary, the Minister also visited the Universal Group of Institutions, Chandigarh, to discuss safety-related concerns with college authorities, particularly in view of the recent departure of many J&K students for their hometowns. She further visited the Saraswati Group of Colleges, where she personally interacted with J&K students, assuring them of the Government’s full support and availability in these challenging times. |
