Says we must keep the constitution alive every day, not for an hour; institutions must not be viewed through a communal lens; those spreading venom should spend a day here
Poonch, Nov 26 :
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said Constitution Day should remind citizens to uphold equality and justice throughout the year.
Speaking at the golden jubilee event of Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom, CM Omar as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC said, “Today, Constitution Day is being celebrated. The meaning of Constitution Day is not that we remember the Constitution for an hour. Its meaning is that every day of the year, we must keep it alive.”
He said “the Constitution grants equal rights to all religions and questioned attempts to view institutions through a communal lens.”
Referring to the SMVDIME controversy, CM Omar said, “Today, in one of the medical colleges, it is being said that Muslims and non-Hindus should not study here. If we set aside merit and start making decisions on the basis of religion, then where will the Constitution go?”
Omar criticised propaganda against religious educational institutions. He said, “I wish those people who spread venom against such religious institutions had a chance to sit here and watch this programme. They are not tired of spreading this propaganda that in these institutions, nothing is taught other than hatred and sectarianism. In these institutions, nothing is given attention other than religion.”
Urging critics to visit the school, he said, “Religion is not forgotten; religion is taught. But along with religion, what is it that is not being taught to children here?”
He added that the event was not a government function and said, “If we wanted, we would not have done it as there was no compulsion to read out the Preamble of the Constitution. I wish those who spread hatred would come here and spend a day. Maybe, they will understand that the propaganda and poison being spread against us by peddling lies, they are not being loyal to the country.”
CM Omar appreciated the institute’s role during difficult times, saying founder Maulana Ghulam Qadir and the institution had always supported the administration in crises.
Earlier, The institute was sanctioned 50 MBBS seats this year. However, the admissions given to 42 students from a particular community in the first batch for the 2025-26 academic year have sparked controversy.
On Saturday, a delegation of BJP MLAs led by Sunil Sharma, the opposition leader, met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and demanded cancellation of the admission list and the reservation of seats for only those students who have faith in Mata Vaishno Devi. (KNC)