Srinagar, April 27 -- Senior politician Bilal Gani Lone has raised concerns over the government's decision to shut down Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-Ul-Uloom in Shopian.

Reacting to the move, he said a complete ban may not be the best way forward.

Instead, he suggested that government could consider taking over the institution and managing it directly. Calling the decision unfortunate, he appealed for a rethink, especially keeping the students in mind. "Closing down the school entirely isn't a solution. There has to be a middle path," he said.

Lone also pointed out that government, led by Omar Abdullah, must make sure that the students don't end up paying the price for the closure. He stressed the need to accommodate them in other instituti...