A fresh political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the proposed establishment of a National Law University (NLU), with the BJP insisting the institution be located in Jammu while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah maintains no final decision has been made. The controversy follows the recent closure of Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College amid protests by Hindu groups against Muslim student admissions, highlighting ongoing regional sensitivities in the Union Territory. The NLU would align Jammu and Kashmir with other states that already host such premier legal institutions.

During last year's Budgam Assembly bypoll, Omar Abdullah announced that the NLU would commence operations from rented premises in Ompora, Budgam, on a site previously earmarked for a software technology park but abandoned due to Air Force objections. The announcement was intended to boost local support, according to critics. Establishing the university in Kashmir would provide students in the Valley access to high-quality legal education without the need to relocate outside the region.

BJP MLA RS Pathania strongly opposed the Budgam plan, arguing that Jammu offers superior connectivity, favorable weather, and a more stable law-and-order environment, making it better suited for a national institution attracting students from across India. He dismissed the CM's bypoll promise as an electoral tactic that failed to deliver results for the National Conference. Pathania vowed that the BJP would oppose any move to locate the NLU in Budgam, pledging to raise the issue in the Assembly, approach the Central government, and organize public agitations if necessary.

Also Read: Security Forces on High Alert After Drone Sightings Across J&K Border Areas

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah countered the BJP's stance by questioning its selective demands for regional equity. He pointed out that no protests occurred in Kashmir when IIT and IIM institutions were allotted to Jammu, asking why similar concerns about balance were absent at that time. Abdullah emphasized that the government has not yet finalized the location and urged critics to allow the administration to complete its decision-making process without premature interference.

BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma reinforced the party's position, describing Jammu's claim as legitimate and grounded in practical advantages for the university's long-term success. The dispute underscores persistent tensions between Jammu and Kashmir divisions over resource allocation and institutional development in the Union Territory. Both sides have indicated they will pursue their respective stands vigorously in legislative and public forums as discussions continue.

Also Read: Amit Shah Reviews J&K Security, Vows Complete Eradication of Terrorism