CM downplays Jammu students’ protest over National Law University demand, Says people of Kashmir didn’t protest when Jammu got IIT, IIM

Samba, Jan 29, KNT: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday downplayed the protest by university students in Jammu demanding the establishment of a National Law University, questioning the very basis of the agitation.

Responding to queries from reporters in Samba, Omar Abdullah remarked, “Which protest? Protest for what and why?” He said such objections were not raised when premier institutions like IIT and IIM were set up in Jammu.

The Chief Minister said Kashmir did not protest when Jammu was allotted IIT and IIM, nor did people in Jammu demand that one of those institutions be given to Kashmir instead. He said selective protests over higher education institutions were unwarranted.

Omar Abdullah further said that it was during his tenure that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was persuaded to establish Central Universities in both Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring balanced regional representation in higher education. [KNT]