Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday urged the Union government to relocate MBBS students admitted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College amid an ongoing controversy over the composition of its inaugural batch. He also suggested temporarily shutting the institution to prevent further escalation of the issue.
The controversy arose after reports indicated that 46 out of 50 students admitted to the first MBBS batch belong to the Muslim community. Several local residents and Hindu organisations have raised objections, demanding reservation for Hindu candidates, citing that the medical college is largely funded through donations made by devotees of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Addressing media persons after reviewing Public Works Department projects, Omar Abdullah defended the students, stating that admissions were based purely on merit.
“These students earned their seats through hard work. No favours were extended to anyone,” he said. “If there are objections to their presence, the solution is to adjust them in other medical colleges—not to target the students.”
He further added that the prevailing political atmosphere surrounding the institution is not conducive to learning.
“In the current situation, even students may not feel comfortable studying there. If I were a parent, I would hesitate to send my child to such an environment,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicising sectors such as education, sports, and food habits. He proposed that the affected students be accommodated in established government medical colleges to safeguard their academic future.
Commenting on BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma’s demand for a separate Jammu state, Omar Abdullah responded critically, stating that the party had the opportunity to do so in 2019 during the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
“They separated Ladakh but failed to manage it effectively. Now, attempts are being made to divide Jammu along religious lines,” he said.
On the delay in implementing the reservation policy, the Chief Minister clarified that the cabinet had already completed its process and sent recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor.
“The final approval now rests with the LG,” he said.
Meanwhile, protests continued in Jammu, with the youth wing of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti demonstrating near the Civil Secretariat. Protesters alleged irregularities in the admission process conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) and demanded its cancellation.
Convener of the Sangharsh Samiti, Colonel (Retd) Sukhvir Singh Mankotia, called for immediate government intervention, stating that transparency in education and healthcare must not be compromised.
Separate protests were also held by Bajrang Dal activists, who burned an effigy of the Shrine Board at the city bus stand. Authorities sealed the Civil Secretariat as a precautionary measure to prevent escalation.
