No breakthrough yet in Vaishno Devi medical college admission row
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has held two meetings with Union Health Minister JP Nadda
Despite two meetings with Union Health Minister JP Nadda by members of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti and the J&K BJP leaders, there has been no breakthrough in the controversy surrounding admissions to the shrine-run medical college.
The Samiti has also held multiple protest demonstrations over the past month, demanding corrective action in the seat-allocation process at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence.
A delegation of the Sangharsh Samiti met Nadda in New Delhi on December 19 and apprised him of the resentment prevailing in the Jammu division over the admission of non-Hindu candidates. The controversy erupted after a majority of the 50 MBBS seats were reportedly allotted to Muslim candidates.
The delegation included Samiti convener Sukhvir Mankotia, Sanatan Dharam Sabha (J&K) president Purshotam Dadhichi, and BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, among others.
Mankotia said the delegation presented its concerns in detail and urged the Union Health Minister to intervene. “The concerns were articulated firmly yet constructively, highlighting the expectations of the people of Jammu from an institution established under the revered name of Mata Vaishno Devi,” he said.
According to Mankotia, Nadda gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that the matter would be examined seriously. “He acknowledged the gravity of the issue and assured that a resolution would be arrived at shortly, keeping in view the legitimate aspirations and sentiments of the people of Jammu,” Mankotia added.
Earlier, on December 2, a high-level delegation of the J&K BJP had also met Nadda to convey similar concerns. The BJP leaders informed the minister that several religious and social organisations had launched protests seeking transparency and corrective measures in the admission process.
Despite sustained protests over the past month, there has been no official response from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, chaired by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
