SMVDIME Admission Row: J&K BJP delegation meets Nadda, seeks urgent intervention
Jammu, Dec 2: A high-level delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K unit on Tuesday sought urgent intervention of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda to find an immediate and appropriate solution to the row over Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) admissions.
Referring to the situation, they cautioned that if the issue was not addressed promptly, a large-scale agitation could emerge in the coming days, potentially disturbing the peaceful environment of the region.
Exhortation was made by the delegation when it called on Nadda in New Delhi to discuss the controversy surrounding admissions to the MBBS seats in SMVDIME, Katra.
The delegation comprised J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha member Sat Sharma; Union MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh; LoP in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, MP (Lok Sabha), Jugal Kishore Sharma; MP (Rajya Sabha) Ghulam Ali Khatana; MLAs Devinder Manyal, Sham Lal Sharma, and R S Pathania.
They conveyed to the Union Health Minister the resentment brewing among devotees and civil society groups over the religious composition of the first batch of 50 MBBS seats.
They said that 42 of the 50 seats were allotted to candidates from a particular community, a development that triggered strong reactions among devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and among those who contributed financially to the shrine.
The delegation told Nadda, who is also the BJP President, that various social and religious organisations had begun holding protests, expressing dissatisfaction and demanding “corrective measures” in the admission process.
These party leaders said that while the BJP respected the merit-based and constitutional framework of medical admissions, it was equally important to acknowledge the sentiments of devotees associated with the shrine.
They urged the Union Health Minister to understand the “gravity” of the situation and “intervene appropriately” so that a solution could be found, respecting the emotional connection devotees have with the SMVD institution.
The J&K BJP delegation appealed for a “thorough review” of the admission process and consideration of mechanisms that could ensure devotees felt “represented and reassured”.
The Union Health Minister gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured them that the matter would be examined with due seriousness.
Nadda assured that the ministry would look into all aspects of the issue and take appropriate steps to address the concerns raised, while ensuring compliance with national medical education norms.
The J&K BJP leaders expressed confidence that the Centre would take “timely action” to ensure a “fair” and “acceptable” resolution.
