Vaishno Devi college receives J&K govt grants, claims NC leader

The controversy surrounding admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) took a new turn on Monday after National Conference (NC) MLA and party spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq claimed that the institution receives financial grants from the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

In a post on X, Sadiq asserted that the J&K government provides grant-in-aid to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), with which the medical college is affiliated. “Rs 24 crore last year, Rs 28 crore this year. This clearly proves the institution isn’t running on donations alone. And when public money is involved, every citizen of this UT has an equal right to be there, irrespective of religion or background,” Sadiq wrote, sharing what he said were official documents.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah once again defended the admission of Muslim students to the medical college, arguing that the institution cannot restrict admissions on religious grounds unless it is formally notified as a minority institution.

“The admissions were done on the basis of prescribed guidelines, as this is not a minority institution. If they want Muslims not to study here, then they should declare it a minority institution. The one Sikh and 42 Muslim students should then be given admission elsewhere,” Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday.

Referring to concerns raised over alleged radicalisation in some institutions outside J&K, Abdullah said that denying Kashmiri students admission to colleges like SMVDIME could force them to seek education elsewhere. “Our children can go to Bangladesh or Turkey for education,” he said.

He also criticised groups opposing the admissions, accusing them of labelling Muslim students as “communal and sectarian.” He argued that if Muslim students are not being tolerated, they cannot be blamed for seeking opportunities elsewhere.

On Monday, Abdullah had reiterated that merit—not religion—should guide admissions to the college.

Reacting to the issue, BJP J&K chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma said that admission to the college should be restricted to those who follow the Hindu faith. “Those who have faith in the Hindu religion and follow its culture should only get admission at the college. We have raised the issue with the Lieutenant Governor, and we hope it will be resolved soon,” Sharma said.