Vaishno Devi medical college MBBS admissions row intensifies, protests set to escalate
Srinagar: Tensions are rising over the MBBS admissions row at Vaishno Devi Medical College, with protestors planning to step up agitation.
According to recent media report, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has announced an escalation of its protest against the first MBBS admission list of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, objecting to the admission of 42 Muslim students among 50 selected candidates. The group is demanding that the admission list be rescinded and that admissions be restricted to Hindu candidates, triggering widespread controversy in Jammu.
At a core committee meeting in Srinagar, Samiti leaders, along with representatives of the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, alleged that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board acted unfairly and deviated from its mandate. They accused the Board of misusing shrine funds over the past two decades for infrastructure projects such as hospitals and universities instead of promoting Sanatan Dharma–related activities.
The Samiti announced plans to launch a region-wide “Sanatan Jagran Yatra,” conduct a mass signature campaign across Jammu division, and intensify protests to pressure the administration. It also decided to write to all Jammu MLAs urging them to boycott official programmes of the Lieutenant Governor and to seek a public clarification from the Leader of the Opposition on his party’s stance regarding the issue.
Hindustan Times has reported that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti recently decided to intensify it's agitation through ''Sanatan Jagran Yatra'' and a signature campaign to press the government for rescinding first admission list to MBBS course and ensure admission to only Hindu candidates in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi medical college.
Medical Dialogues had reported that a major controversy erupted across Jammu following admission of 42 Muslim students out of a total of 50 students in the first batch to the medical college.
Dozens of protesters gathered earlier outside Lok Bhavan and set ablaze an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list. The protests were started by right-wing Hindu groups which later led to the formation of the Sangarsh Samiti and its leaders have already held talks with Lt Governor and leaders of the central government including Union health minister.
At a core committee meet held recently, samiti president, Colonel (retd) Sukhvir Singh Mankotia, and the president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Parshotam Dadhichi expressed resentment and stated that, with the connivance of the shrine board, all seats have been allotted to non-Sanatanis, which constitutes a grave injustice to the Sanatan society.
On this occasion, various speakers launched a sharp attack on the functioning of the shrine board, stating that the Board was constituted in 1988 to ensure the proper and just management of the offerings made by devotees at the holy shrine. “The Board’s core mandate was to ensure the safety of pilgrims, facilitate smooth Darrshan, and promote Sanatan Dharma, including the running of Gurukuls and Gaushalas,” they said.
However, for the past two decades, these funds have been misused for the construction of hospitals, universities, and roads, which were essentially the responsibility of the government, they added.
Mankotia outlined the future course of action and stated that, in order to transform this struggle into a mass movement, a “Sanatan Jagran Yatra” will be launched across the entire region.
He further announced that a large-scale “signature campaign” would be conducted throughout the Jammu division to gather public support and opinion. “Simultaneously, protest demonstrations will be intensified to awaken the current LG administration and the Omar Abdullah government from their slumber,” he said.
It was unanimously decided that formal letters would be written to all MLAs of Jammu, clearly warning them to completely boycott the official programmes of the LG. “Additionally, the committee will soon invite the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma to Geeta Bhawan so that he may publicly clarify his and his party’s stand on this issue,” said Dadhichi.
“The people have the right to know whether their elected representatives stand for the protection of Sanatan values or not,” Dadhichi said.
Also Read:Protests held across Jammu amid row over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi Medical College
