The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced that it will approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) and file a complaint against Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Wednesday said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by announcing the opening of National Law University classes in Budgam, where the by-election process is underway.
The BJP’s objection came after the Chief Minister informed the Legislative Assembly that the proposed National Law University (NLU) in Jammu and Kashmir may start functioning temporarily from Ompora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district from the next financial year.“On the floor of the House, Omar Abdullah Sahib gave assurance to open the classes of the National Law University in Budgam, which is against the Model Code of Conduct,” Sharma said. “For this mistake, he should resign on moral grounds.”
The BJP leader questioned the Chief Minister’s authority to make such an announcement during the enforcement of the MCC. “What right does he have to make such decisions when the Model Code of Conduct is in place? The Chief Minister cannot ignore the directions of the Election Commission of India,” Sharma said.“The Chief Minister crossed all limits today and violated the MCC. The bye-election is being held in the Budgam Assembly constituency, and the code is in force. His assurance in the Assembly that the Law University will start functioning in Budgam is a clear violation of the ECI’s guidelines,” Sharma told reporters.
He alleged that the Chief Minister had previously made statements challenging institutions and has now gone a step further by announcing policy decisions during the MCC period. “If he believes in morality, he should resign. Otherwise, we will ask the Election Commission to act,” Sharma said. Bypolls to the Budgam Assembly seat are scheduled for November 11, and the MCC is currently in force in the district.
While speaking in the Assembly on a Private Member’s Resolution moved by Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat regarding the establishment of the NLU in Bandipora, Omar Abdullah said that the final decision on the university’s location would be made later.
“We will make a decision on where to establish the National Law University at the appropriate time. It will take considerable time to build the main campus,” Omar told the House.
He added that while it would not be possible to set up the NLU during the current financial year, the government intended to begin admissions and classes from early next financial year.“We want admissions and classes to start from the next financial year. For now, we will have to operate in rented accommodation,” the Chief Minister said.Omar explained that officials were already working to identify suitable infrastructure for temporary use.
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