People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, has launched a sharp attack against the Centre and UT government over de-recognizing Vaishno Devi Medical college, warning that the move shall have repercussions at the national leve.
Expressing serious concern over the safety and well-being of students studying at Mata Vaishno Devi Colleges, she said the issue is alarming and cannot be treated lightly, as it directly relates to the security and future of students.The criticism follows the recent de-recognition of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Sciences (SMVDIMS). Mufti characterized the decision as a politically motivated tactic and a dangerous precedent that could be replicated against minorities across India.
Addressing a press conference, Mufti linked the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) action to the broader issue of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood. “The atmosphere being created, especially in Jammu, and the rumours circulating regarding statehood are all negated by this decision,” she stated. “It reinforces a pattern every experiment first conducted on Jammu and Kashmir is later implemented across the country.”
Directing her remarks toward Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti expressed “immense regret” over his reported comments. “A day before the order was issued, Omar Abdullah hinted that the Centre might close down the college. The very next day, the de-recognition order came. Was this a prior understanding?” she questioned.
While acknowledging that the affected students, who qualified through NEET, would likely be accommodated elsewhere, Mufti emphasized the larger implications. “The question is why such tactics are being repeated. When education is politicized in the name of religion, and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir find no place even in their own territory, how can they feel secure in Haryana, Punjab, or other states?” she asked.
The PDP leader alleged that the decision was influenced by “fringe, communal forces” in Jammu affiliated with the BJP, RSS, and Bajrang Dal, which had recently protested against the institution. “By succumbing to such pressures, we are encouraging a mindset that will employ similar tactics elsewhere under the notion that ‘these are Muslims, these are the children of Kashmir; push them out.’ This is a wrong decision,” she asserted.
She called upon Chief Minister Abdullah to have opposed the Centre’s move. “He should have stopped such a step. This decision has essentially evicted Kashmiri Muslim students,” she said.Mehbooba reiterating her concern for thousands of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying across India, suggesting they could now face similar targeting. “When our own people are evicted from their own homes, what else can one expect?” she further added.Mehbooba Mufti urged the government to take concrete steps to ensure the safety, dignity, and confidence of students, and to restore trust so that parents feel assured about their children’s future within the state.
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