In what can roll into a major controversy, the Vishva Hindu Parishad has raised questions on the admission process adopted at the Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, claiming a majority of those enrolled in the first batch are Muslims, and urged Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter.
The row has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the first MBBS admission list of the newly opened Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra. Several political and social leaders have questioned the fairness of the selection process after it was revealed that a large majority of the selected students do not belong to the Hindu community, even though the institute is funded entirely by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), a Hindu religious body.
In a letter to Sinha on November 1, VHP general secretary Bajrang Bagra wrote, “We have learned that in the first batch of 50 students at the Institute of Medical Excellence, only six are Hindus, while 44 are Muslim.”He also claimed that the majority of the nursing college faculty are Muslims or Christians.“This fact not only contradicts religious beliefs but also deeply offends the sentiments of the local and wider Hindu community,” the senior VHP functionary said.“We are currently not fully aware of the internal nature of the Medical College admissions process; but the admission system at this sacred institution of Mata Vaishno Devi must appropriately accommodate religious sensitivities, cultural heritage and the expectations of future society,” he said.
Bagra said that VHP expects that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, “respectfully understanding the gravity of the situation, will promptly review its admission and appointment policies so that the religious commitment of the institution, balance, and the expectations of devotees and society alike are preserved”.“Only Hindu teachers and staff” should be appointed in all these institutions, he demanded.“It is also pertinent to request that the board undertake only such public welfare projects that do not hurt the sentiments of Mata Rani’s devotees and the devout Hindu community,” he said in the letter.
The Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, last week, held a protest in Jammu demanding the grant of “minority institution” status to the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence to enable reservation of seats for Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir. Many believe that the institute, built with nearly Rs 500 crore collected through donations from Hindu devotees, was seen as a proud example of faith-driven development. But the admission list for the 2025-26 session has stirred controversy. Out of 50 selected students, 42 belong to the Muslim community, 7 are Hindus, and one is Sikh, as per reports.
Senior BJP leader Dr Parneesh Mahajan strongly criticised the selection ratios and called for an open review of the admission process carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE). He said the figures have created anguish among devotees and raised doubts about the fairness of the procedure.
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