Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday strongly rejected the BJP’s demand regarding the location of the National Law University (NLU), saying no final decision has been made yet. He questioned the BJP, asking why there was no controversy over “equity” when IIT and IIM were established in Jammu.
The Chief Minister said, “When Jammu got IIT and IIM, what did Kashmir get? Now, when it comes to NLU, why are people suddenly expressing dissatisfaction?” He urged political actors to avoid turning the issue into a political debate.
Omar Abdullah clarified that the location of the National Law University has not been finalized and that the government will take the decision. He said, “Leave this decision to the government. We will decide, and then the situation will be clear.”
BJP MLA R.S. Pathania and other party leaders argued that Jammu, with better connectivity and facilities, is a more suitable location and that the national institution should be established there. They maintained that the decision should serve the interests of students and candidates from across the country.
The Chief Minister’s statement comes at a time when the recent MBBS admission controversy at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu had heated up political debates. In that dispute, right-wing groups reacted strongly to the higher number of Muslim students in the admission list.
Amid political tensions, the Chief Minister’s remarks reiterate the demand for equal opportunities and balanced development, signaling that the Union Territory government aims to make measured and equitable decisions in the field of education.