‘Never shied away from any queries’
*Who is responsible for not fulfilling NMC’s norms?
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he has spoken on every issue but if anyone wants further answers, the Assembly session is coming up and the members can raise their questions there.
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Speaking to reporters on sidelines of a function here, Omar, responding to a question on unemployment and criticism that he speaks too much, said he has never shied away from any issue and never remained silent.
“I have never remained silent on any of the issues. However, if someone wants further answers, the Legislative Assembly session is coming up and the MLAs can ask any question there,” he said, adding he will respond to all the questions.
Budget session of the Legislature is beginning from February 2 here with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s Address and Omar Abdullah, who holds charge of the Finance Department, will present his second budget for the financial year of 2026-27.
Responding to questions on shut down of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), the Chief Minister asked if National Medical Commission’s norms were not fulfilled, who is responsible for that.
“The matter was even more unfortunate if the norms were not fulfilled. Who heads this University and who is its Chancellor? They should also be questioned. Instead of questioning me alone, ask them as well,” he said.
He reiterated that accountability must be fixed if standards are not maintained. “If today the BJP is happy that the university failed to maintain standards, then who is responsible and what action will be taken? We will adjust these 50 students, but someone must answer for the damage done to students’ futures,” he said and called for fixing accountability if standards were not maintained at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College.
Omar said they are not the kind of people who give money and then take it back. He was responding to a question on whether the Government intended to take back financial aid given to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
“The aid was given to the University,” he asserted.
Omar reiterated that the Government will accommodate students affected by the closure of the SMVDIME by adjusting them in other institutions through supernumerary seats, which are additional seats created over and above the intake approved by an authority.
“The Health Minister is standing here with me. Yesterday, she was with me in Samba. We have discussed this issue thoroughly and, as I said yesterday in Samba after the issuance of the order, these students have passed the NEET examination in a lawful manner. They have merit,” he said.
“It is our legal responsibility to accommodate them. We will adjust them by creating supernumerary seats in colleges close to their homes so that their education does not suffer,” the Chief Minister said.
He said adjusting the students was not a difficult task. “We will do it,” he added.
Asserting that the Government must also reflect on the injustice done to students’ futures in the long run by shutting down the Medical College, he said: “Today, out of 50 seats, 40 were taken by Muslim students and objections were raised. But if, over time, the number of seats in this college had gradually increased to 400-500, it is possible that 250-300 students in the future would have been from Jammu. Where will those students go now?”
He said the aspirants across the country struggle to secure Medical College seats but we are perhaps the only place where we received a fully built Medical College and yet got it shut down due to protests.
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