BJP State Spokesperson, Prof. Virender Gupta, welcomed the Union Cabinet decision of approving IIM for Jammu with its out-campus in Kashmir for which the academic session shall start from this year itself. He also hailed the decision of the Union Cabinet for approving Rs. 100 crore for the modernization of infrastructure in NIT–Srinagar and Rs. 50 crore project for seven hostels for girl students—three each in Jammu region and Kashmir valley and one in Leh. He said that with sanction of IIM, IIT, AIIMS, IIMC for Jammu region in addition to the existing Central University, Jammu region is going to become hub of educational activities and would provide great opportunities to the local talent and enhance the profile of Jammu region in rest of the country.
Prof. Virender could not understand the unhappiness and resentment of Omar Abdullah, who remained as Chief Minister of the State and is Working President of the so called mainstream State party on approval of IIM for Jammu region and calling the decision of the centre government as “blatant partisan-politics”.
The Spokesperson said that Omar Abdullah should concentrate his energy on bringing normalcy in the valley and ensure smooth and regular functioning of NIT in the valley. He reminded that in the previous governments which were most of the period run by National Conference including Congress too, Jammu region had always remained at the receiving end. The people of the region were discriminated in all walks of life during the last about seven decades.
He said that earlier all the prestigious institutions of the state were established in the Valley and Jammu region was pushed to struggle to get its due. He quoted that Regional Engineering College, Medical College, Dental College, Artificial Limb Centre, Post Graduate Sher-e-Kashmir Institution of Medical Sciences, Agriculture University, Physical College of Education etc. were setup in Valley long ago and added that even the Central University and the AIIMS, which were approved for Jammu region, were shifted to Valley with political manipulation. People of Jammu region have to struggle for getting these institutions established in the region also.
Prof. Virender Gupta asked Davinder Singh Rana and other Jammu based National Conference leaders to console their leader, Omar and asked him to refrain from such type of outburst against Jammu.
