Religion based seat reservation unacceptable, says Mehbooba Mufti on Row over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi medical college
Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has recently stated that ignoring merit and demanding the distribution of seats based on religion was wrong and would harm the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire country.
"It is very wrong to ignore merit and demand distribution of seats based on religion. Such things should not happen. "It will not only spoil the atmosphere of Jammu and Kashmir but will also affect the entire country. If this begins here, it will spread to other parts as well," Mehbooba PTI.
"The idea was simple — anyone with merit would get admission. Mata Vaishno Devi University is doing well, while Baba Ghulam Shah University is facing some difficulties," she said. Referring to the ongoing controversy over admissions, she said it is "completely wrong". "Jammu and Kashmir belong to everyone. Jammu has always been known as a place where the lion and the lamb could drink water from the same river," she said.
The political row erupted after the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Medical College completed admissions through the NEET merit list earlier this month, with the college admitting 42 Muslim students, mostly from Kashmir. Besides, seven Hindu students from Jammu and one Sikh were selected for the inaugural MBBS batch of 50.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected the proposal received from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, seeking to place 100 percent of its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) to be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
The institute's request to NMC came amid the ongoing controversy concerning the MBBS admission process at Katra-based Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence. In the Jammu region, protests were launched against the revelation that 90% of the students admitted to the medical college are Muslim students belonging to Kashmir.
After the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) released a list of 50 candidates for the Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence, it came to light that among these 50 candidates, 42 hail from the Kashmir region, while eight students hail from Jammu. Already 36 candidates from Kashmir and three candidates from Jammu have taken admission.
Also Read:173 JnK FMGs without internship accuse medical council of provisional registration delays
