Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Nov 26: The controversy over admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) continued on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah again questioning the use of religion in colleges, while the BJP maintained that the educational institution belongs to the Hindu community.
The controversy erupted after the first MBBS batch admissions allocated 42 of 50 seats to Muslim students purely based on merit. Hindu groups have demanded minority status for the Shrine Board-run college, arguing that most donations come from Hindu pilgrims and should be reflected in seat allocation.
CM Abdullah questioned the use of religion as a criterion in student admissions.
Referring to BJP statements suggesting that Hindu students should have primary rights due to the institute being funded through donations at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Omar said, “Today, education is given the colour of religion. Even in medical colleges, it is said that Muslims or non-Hindus should not study here. Now, we will put aside the merits of the children and start making decisions on the basis of religion. Where will the constitution of the country go?”
The CM cited Jamia Zia Ul Uloom as an example of merit-based education and constitutional values, noting the institution’s role in promoting community harmony and supporting relief efforts during natural disasters.
He highlighted Jamia students’ success in competitive exams like UPSC, KAS, and KPS and expressed personal appreciation for its faculty and students.
BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana said that merit and community composition are both important factors in admissions. “Around seventy per cent of the local population belongs to a particular community, so they naturally choose that option,” he said. “If an institution is associated with any faith, that factor should also be considered, stressing that there is no Hindu-Muslim angle in it.”
BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said the rights of students who have already secured admission would be protected.
Accusing CM Abdullah of attempting to divide society along religious lines, Sethi said, “Because Vaishno Devi is made with the donation of the Shrine Board, the children of the Hindu community who want to get admission in medical school, their primary rights should be respected.”
The spokesperson accused the National Conference, PDP, and the Congress of trying to divide society between Hindus and Muslims. “We want to keep society together, while giving equal importance to the faiths of both religions,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti held a protest in Ramban against the Shrine Board over the allocation of 42 out of 50 seats to students from a particular community. They demanded that the selection list be cancelled, arguing that the process was unfair and lacked transparency.
The controversy has intensified debate over balancing merit, community representation, and faith-based considerations in admissions at faith-linked educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
