A right-wing group protested in Jammu last Thursday, demanding seat reservations for Hindu students at a newly opened medical college. The Rashtriya Bajrang Dal (RBD) organized a march against the admission of 42 Muslim students, predominantly from Kashmir, to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence.
The controversy began earlier this month after the college finalized admissions for its inaugural 50-seat MBBS batch. Eight-five percent of these seats were allocated to residents of Jammu and Kashmir, based on NEET merit scores.
Admission Breakdown Sparks Protest
Of the 50 total MBBS seats, 42 went to Muslim students. Seven Hindu students from Jammu and one Sikh candidate secured the remaining positions. Rashtriya Bajrang Dal chief Rakesh Kumar termed these admissions a “conspiracy to dominate the medical college.” He asserted that the institute operates on donations from millions of Hindu devotees of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple.
Protesters, led by Kumar, assembled in the city’s center and marched towards Indira Chowk. They raised slogans for “justice” for the Hindu community. The group also directed slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. An effigy representing the chief minister and the board was set on fire before the protesters dispersed peacefully.
Demands for Probe and Reservation
Rakesh Kumar demanded a probe into the selection process. He questioned how an institution, funded by Hindu donations, could be dominated by one community. Kumar urged the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the central government to ensure justice for the community. He called for reserving seats for Hindu students, similar to provisions in some Muslim and Sikh institutions.
Kumar pressed the government to nullify the current admissions. He proposed shifting Muslim students to other institutions and bringing Hindu students from other colleges into the Vaishno Devi Institute. Kumar warned of a “major region-wide agitation” if their demands were not met.
Chief Minister Defends Merit-Based System
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized attempts to seek religious segregation in college admissions. He maintained that selection must be determined by merit alone. Abdullah had previously stated that if seat distribution were to be based on religion, the institution must cease receiving grant-in-aid and pay for the land provided free of cost.
“Only then can you change the university rules to reserve seats for one religion. We will have no objection to that,” Abdullah stated. He emphasized that the land did not belong to his family, responding to Kumar’s allegations.
Comparison with Other Institutions
Kumar lashed out at the Chief Minister’s comments regarding land cost and grants. He alleged that Abdullah acted as a religious leader for Muslims rather than as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Kumar highlighted that Muslim-run institutions, such as Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Islamic University, received free land and grants-in-aid, along with reservations for Muslim students.
He argued against the disproportionate admission of Muslim students to the Vaishno Devi Institute, given its association with the Hindu shrine. “How can land given to Vaishno Devi University mean that 42 Muslim students would be admitted out of a total of 50 seats, while Hindus in their own college get just seven seats?” Kumar asked.
Future Outlook
The Rashtriya Bajrang Dal has threatened further agitation if the government does not address their demands for a probe and seat reservation. The Chief Minister continues to uphold the principle of merit in admissions, opposing religious segregation.