TAUSEEF AHMAD
JAMMU, Jan 12: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday firmly dismissed allegations that his government was favouring one region over the other in the proposed establishment of a National Law University (NLU), asserting that no final decision has yet been taken on its location and that the issue is being prematurely politicised.
Speaking to the media in Jammu, Abdullah said the controversy surrounding the NLU was misplaced, as the government has not formally announced any location. He urged political parties and stakeholders to wait for the government’s final and official decision, which, he said, would be made transparently through the budgetary process.
“Big policy decisions are not taken on the streets or through media speculation. They are reflected in the budget and discussed in the legislature,” Abdullah said, underlining that it would be inappropriate and misleading to announce or hint at major decisions outside the House.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the difficult financial situation of the Union Territory, pointing out that Jammu and Kashmir continues to face severe resource constraints. “Our financial condition is not very strong. We are trying to secure as much support as possible from the Government of India so that we can take forward new institutions and development projects,” he said, adding that every new initiative must be backed by financial viability.
Referring specifically to the controversy over the National Law University, Abdullah questioned why similar concerns were not raised in the past when premier central institutions were established in Jammu. “When IIT and IIM were sanctioned for Jammu, did anyone in Kashmir object? Was there any outcry about discrimination then?” he asked. “At that time, nobody spoke about imbalance or regional injustice. Now suddenly, the same argument is being raised selectively.”
He maintained that his government remains committed to taking a fair, balanced and well-considered decision on the NLU. “No decision has been taken yet. Let us do our job. When we decide, it will be done after due thought and keeping all factors in mind,” he said.
Abdullah also brushed aside demands for immediate clarity on the NLU location, saying such insistence was politically motivated. “You cannot expect the government to announce budget-related decisions outside the Assembly. There is a process, and we will follow it,” he asserted.
However, his remarks triggered a strong response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Senior BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma said the Chief Minister must be sensitive to the long-standing aspirations and sentiments of the people of Jammu, particularly when it comes to the distribution of key educational and professional institutions.
Sharma warned that higher education should not become another flashpoint for regional rivalry. “Institutions like a National Law University should unite the regions, not divide them. The Chief Minister must ensure that Jammu is not ignored while decisions are taken,” he said.
To address regional concerns and promote balanced development, Sharma proposed that National Law University campuses be set up in both Jammu and Kashmir regions. “If the government is truly committed to equity, it should consider opening the NLU in both regions so that students across the Union Territory get equal opportunities,” he said.
The ongoing debate over the NLU has once again brought into focus the sensitive issue of regional balance between Jammu and Kashmir, a subject that has repeatedly surfaced in political discourse over the years. The location of major institutions—whether educational, administrative, or economic—has often been viewed through the prism of regional equity, making the proposed law university a politically charged issue even before a formal decision has been announced.
As the government prepares its upcoming budget, all eyes are now on whether the NLU will figure in it—and if so, how the delicate balance between Jammu and Kashmir will be handled.
