Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday rejected the BJP’s renewed demand to set up the proposed National Law University (NLU) in Jammu instead of Kashmir, asking why there was no such debate over “equality” when both an IIT and an IIM were established in Jammu.
“Jammu got IIT and IIM. What did Kashmir get at that time? Why did you not speak of equality then? Why was there no controversy that one institute should be in Jammu and the other in Kashmir? You did not feel bad then. Now, when it comes to the National Law University, you see discrimination,” Mr. Abdullah said. He added that no decision has yet been taken on the location of the NLU. “Leave this decision to us. Let us decide, and then we will see,” he said.
Abdullah’s remarks came in response to the BJP’s pitch to locate the NLU in Jammu. BJP leader and legislator R.S. Pathania said the law university should be opened in Jammu and not in Kashmir, arguing that “it is a national institute and Jammu is a better place as it has better connectivity.”
Last year, Mr. Abdullah had hinted in a speech that the NLU would function from the Ompora area in Budgam district of the Kashmir Valley.
Chairing a review meeting, the Chief Minister said any assistance from the Centre for establishing the National Law University would be welcome, given the Union Territory’s weak financial condition. He added that despite financial constraints, the government remains committed to continuing initiatives announced in last year’s budget and strengthening ongoing schemes.
The BJP’s demand is the latest in a series of political campaigns in Jammu. Recently, the party had also sought the cancellation of an MBBS selection list at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra after 42 out of 50 selected candidates were Muslims.
Earlier this week, the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew approval for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district to run its MBBS course for the 2025–26 academic year, weeks after the campus witnessed Hindutva protests triggered by the institute’s first admission list, which included an overwhelming number of Muslim students.
Hindutva and right-wing groups, including members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal, celebrated the occasion by distributing sweets, beating drums and dancing.
The post “Jammu got IIT, IIM, where was equality then?”: Omar Abdullah rejects BJP’s demand to shift NLU to Jammu appeared first on Maktoob media.
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