SMVDIME admission row: SMVDSS protests at Tawi bridge in Jammu

Jammu, Dec 5: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti (SMVDSS) Friday staged a sit-in demonstration on the Tawi bridge against the admission of students from a single community to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME).

The protest against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), management of SMVDIME and the elected government was led by Colonel Sukhvir Singh Mankotia, convener of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti.

Addressing the protesters, Colonel Mankotia said, “This is not a Hindu-Muslim fight; it is a fight for our faith (Aastha). Society must be wary of people who are trying to give this issue a communal colour.”

Mankotia demanded that the Shrine Board should use the offerings only for the benefit of those who have faith in Mata Vaishno Devi.

“This fund should be spent on institutions and centres that adhere to the Sanatan Dharma. The committee's agitation will continue until the Shrine Board or the Medical College management reverses its decision,” he threatened.

Parshottam Dadhichi, core committee member of the Sangharsh Samiti and president of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Jammu Kashmir), criticised the statements of the Chief Minister vis-à-vis donation of land to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.