On the occasion of Constitution Day, prominent leaders in Jammu and Kashmir delivered significant addresses emphasizing the importance of upholding constitutional values, though from contrasting perspectives. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke at separate events, both highlighting the relevance of the Constitution to the region's current political and social landscape.
Omar Abdullah's Defense of Religious Educational Institutions
Addressing students and faculty at the 50th annual celebration of Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom madrassa in Jammu's Poonch district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed serious concerns about what he described as unfair targeting of religious educational institutions. The event began with the national anthem, patriotic songs, and Constitutional Day pledges, creating a patriotic atmosphere that Abdullah pointed to as evidence against claims made about such institutions.
"I wish those people who spread venom against religious educational institutions through social media and the press had been here today to witness this programme," Abdullah stated. He directly challenged narratives that institutions like Zia-ul-Uloom teach only communalism and religious education, emphasizing that alongside religious studies, they teach science, mathematics, and other mainstream subjects.
The Chief Minister strongly countered social media claims that these institutions promote anti-national sentiment, calling such propaganda "unpatriotic." He highlighted that the reality at ground level completely contradicts these negative perceptions.
Constitutional Values in Practice
Abdullah emphasized that symbolic observation of Constitution Day meant little if constitutional ideals weren't followed in practice. "Today, we observed Constitution Day. It does not mean we remember the Constitution just for one hour; it means we must uphold it every day," he asserted.
The Chief Minister referenced the Preamble's guarantee of equal rights for every religion, equal democratic rights, and equality before law for all citizens. He expressed concern about current trends where education is being given religious coloring, specifically mentioning recent objections raised by BJP, VHP, and Bajrang Dal over the admission of Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir, to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in Katra.
The controversy erupted after only eight Hindu students from Jammu qualified for the first MBBS batch of 50 students, with admissions being strictly based on the NEET merit list. Abdullah used this example to illustrate his concerns about discrimination in education.
Highlighting the madrassa's patriotic credentials, Abdullah noted that Zia-ul-Uloom has consistently supported the government and helped during natural disasters. He revealed a tragic incident from May 7 when shells fired from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir hit the madrassa during Operation Sindoor, killing a teacher and wounding three students.
LG Sinha's Perspective on Post-370 Jammu and Kashmir
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, speaking at a separate function in Jammu celebrating 75 years of the Constitution's adoption, presented a different emphasis. He highlighted that after a long wait of 67 years, all provisions of the Constitution were fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, effectively ending discrimination and injustice in the region.
Sinha was referring to the historic abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor made a significant declaration about the current administration's approach to separatism and patriotism in the region.
"Those who say what was achieved over the past five years, I want to tell them that the practice of rewarding separatists and torturing patriots has been stopped completely," Sinha stated emphatically. He positioned this change as a fundamental shift in the region's governance approach since the constitutional changes.
The Lieutenant Governor concluded by asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is now progressing guided by the ideals of equity, social and economic justice as enshrined in the Constitution by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, marking a new chapter in the region's development trajectory.
Both addresses on Constitution Day highlighted the ongoing political transformations in Jammu and Kashmir while addressing contemporary concerns about educational equality, constitutional rights, and regional development from their respective administrative perspectives.
