The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) held protests in Jammu’s Ramban district to press the administration of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) in Katra, to reserve all the MBBS seats for Hindus.
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said merit and not religion should be the basis of admission in varsities.
“The Samiti, which has been formulated, held a protest in Ramban. This was after a particular community secured 42 MBBS seats, seven Hindus seven and one by a Sikh candidate at the varsity’s medical college. Money for varsity is donated by those affiliated to Sanathan Dharam and should benefit our own people,” Sangharsh Samiti Ramban president retired Subedar Major Surinder Singh Jamwal said.
The Samiti also sought cancellation of the NEET selection list in which 42 Muslims qualified for the MBBS at the varsity. “Our protest is not against any community but the policies of the varsity’s administration, which has failed to draft a policy to reserve seats for those who donate money (at the shrine),” Mr. Jamwal said.
The BJP, which has submitted a memorandum to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to cancel the selection list and amend the rules to favour Hindu aspirants, also continued its protest in Jammu.
“Since the varsity is run on the donations given at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine so Hindu students have primary right. The rights of the students who have got admission will be secured,” BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi said.
BJP leader and Member Parliament (MP) Ghulam Ali Khatana also supported the party demand to bar admission of Muslims at the varsity.
“Two things are important. One is merit, and the other is the fact that around 70% of the people here belong to a particular community, so they naturally choose that option. Apart from that, if an institution is associated with any faith, that factor also matters and should be taken into consideration. There is no Hindu-Muslim angle in this,” Mr. Khatana said.
Meanwhile, J&K CM Abdullah expressed concern over “education being 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?” Mr. Abdullah said, while speaking at the Jamia Zia Ul Uloom in Poonch.
He said the Uloom was an example of merit-based education and constitutional values. “The institution and its head, Maulana Ghulam Qadir Sahib, had supported the government in maintaining community harmony and had assisted during natural disasters. Students from the institute have succeeded in competitive exams such as UPSC, KAS (Kashmir Administrative Service), and KPS (Kashmir Police Service),” Mr. Abdullah said.