The Crossbill News Desk
A renewed political row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after a five-member Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation submitted a memorandum demanding that all MBBS seats at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, be reserved exclusively for Hindu students.
The delegation, led by Sunil Sharma, leader of the opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, handed over the memorandum to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday (November 22). The submission also called for cancellation of the current admission list, which includes a majority of Muslim candidates, The Hindu reported.
“Most students in the admission list are from one particular community this year. We protested against it. The varsity is a religious institution and people have faith and beliefs attached to it. Every devotee donates to this religious institution with a wish to see the promotion of their faith. However, the Board as well as the varsity have not considered the faith. We made it clear to the L-G that only those who have faith in Mata Vaishno Devi should get admission,” Sharma told the newspaper.
“This year’s admission list is not acceptable to us. We have sought changes in the rules of the admission process. Only those who could establish devotional values should be allowed admission,” he added.
The demand follows protests led last week by Sangh Parivar–aligned organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, after it emerged that nearly 90% of admitted students were Muslims from Kashmir. The organisations argued that an institute funded through offerings to the Vaishno Devi shrine should not have a majority of Muslim enrolments.
Also read: Jammu: VHP, Bajrang Dal Demand Scrapping of Admission List at Vaishnodevi Institute
However, the BJP’s stance has drawn sharp criticism from regional political parties, who have called the demand discriminatory and unconstitutional. They also criticised lieutenant governor Sinha for accepting the memorandum without objection.
“It is unfortunate that the L-G has accepted such a divisive and communal memorandum. Across the country, students of all religions study in minority institutions. Many Hindu students study at the Aligarh Muslim University and the same is true of the Jamia Millia Islamia. No one raised an objection to that ever,” said National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, reported The Hindu.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti termed the BJP’s move as “shameful”.
“In Naya Kashmir, discrimination towards Muslims now also extends to education. The irony being that this anti-Muslim apartheid is being legitimised and carried out in India’s only Muslim majority State with its only Muslim Chief Minister,” said Mufti.
According to official data, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) had approved a list of 50 students for admission to the medical programme at the Vaishno Devi institution. Of these, 42 candidates were from Kashmir and eight from Jammu. So far, 36 students from Kashmir and three from Jammu have completed admissions.
The controversy continues to intensify as stakeholders wait for the lieutenant governor’s next steps.
The delegation, led by Sunil Sharma, leader of the opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, handed over the memorandum to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday (November 22). The submission also called for cancellation of the current admission list, which includes a majority of Muslim candidates, The Hindu reported.
“Most students in the admission list are from one particular community this year. We protested against it. The varsity is a religious institution and people have faith and beliefs attached to it. Every devotee donates to this religious institution with a wish to see the promotion of their faith. However, the Board as well as the varsity have not considered the faith. We made it clear to the L-G that only those who have faith in Mata Vaishno Devi should get admission,” Sharma told the newspaper.
“This year’s admission list is not acceptable to us. We have sought changes in the rules of the admission process. Only those who could establish devotional values should be allowed admission,” he added.
The demand follows protests led last week by Sangh Parivar–aligned organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, after it emerged that nearly 90% of admitted students were Muslims from Kashmir. The organisations argued that an institute funded through offerings to the Vaishno Devi shrine should not have a majority of Muslim enrolments.
Also read: Jammu: VHP, Bajrang Dal Demand Scrapping of Admission List at Vaishnodevi Institute
However, the BJP’s stance has drawn sharp criticism from regional political parties, who have called the demand discriminatory and unconstitutional. They also criticised lieutenant governor Sinha for accepting the memorandum without objection.
“It is unfortunate that the L-G has accepted such a divisive and communal memorandum. Across the country, students of all religions study in minority institutions. Many Hindu students study at the Aligarh Muslim University and the same is true of the Jamia Millia Islamia. No one raised an objection to that ever,” said National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, reported The Hindu.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti termed the BJP’s move as “shameful”.
“In Naya Kashmir, discrimination towards Muslims now also extends to education. The irony being that this anti-Muslim apartheid is being legitimised and carried out in India’s only Muslim majority State with its only Muslim Chief Minister,” said Mufti.
According to official data, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) had approved a list of 50 students for admission to the medical programme at the Vaishno Devi institution. Of these, 42 candidates were from Kashmir and eight from Jammu. So far, 36 students from Kashmir and three from Jammu have completed admissions.
The controversy continues to intensify as stakeholders wait for the lieutenant governor’s next steps.
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