Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference and its leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani have been blamed for the lengthy shutdown in the Valley with the schools bearing the brunt of a Talibani-style diktat.
Over the past three weeks, at least 23 schools were reportedly burnt down in a desperate bid to keep up the ante by separatists, hoping to hit hard where it hard most.
The opening of the schools is an emotive issue for the parents in the valley since it is directly linked to the career and future of their wards.
On Saturday, scores of parents take reportedly took out a massive protest rally in Srinagar accusing the Hurriyat Conference of spoiling the future of their children by forcing shutdown in the Valley.
They demanded a quick end to the ongoing 'hartal' in Kashmir.
"Schools must open. Geelani's grand-daughter wrote her exams. Why are they spoiling the future of our kids," India Today quoted one of the parents, who staged protest in Srinagar, as saying.
"Geelani saab keeps his family safe and exploits the poor people like us. I fear for my life that is why I have covered my face to talk to you," another parent was quoted as saying.
They also alleged that they were being forced to follow the instructions of separatists.
The Kashmir Valley has been tense for some three months after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces.
Slamming the Hurriyat for the plight of the schools, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that separatists want to snatch books from children and replace them with stones.
