Grant SMVDIME minority status: CM Omar

Jammu, Nov 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) should be granted a minority status if the assertions were being made to deny admission to Muslim or non-Hindu students there on the basis of their religion.

However, in the same breath, he warned that such a precedent would be against the secular credentials of the country and would have its consequences.

CM Omar was responding to media queries on the sidelines of an official event at Nagrota.

His comment was sought on the statement of the Leader of Opposition (LOP) in J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, that the merit was not being denied or underestimated in the case of the SMVDIME admission row, but the matter involved was of faith, as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was a centre of faith.

On November 24, the CM had said that merit was the criterion and not the religion for admission in SMVDIME as per the Act (passed by J&K Legislative Assembly) under which Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) was established.

The CM said, “The question of faith is fine. However, when you were establishing the medical college, it should have been declared a minority institute. Why was it not granted the status of a minority institute then? They did not give it. Admissions are conducted only on the basis of NEET and entrance exams. Admissions are not done on the basis of religion.”

“Now if you (BJP) want that Muslim (students) should not study here (in SMVDIME). It is all right. We will not study there. You declare it a minority institute, and the Muslim students and the ones belonging to the Sikh community will withdraw from here and will secure admission somewhere else,” he said.

The CM argued that it (denial of admission), however, would set a wrong precedent.

“Those students have secured admission on the basis of merit. Their admission should be ensured somewhere else. But mind it, tomorrow if you point fingers at Muslims alleging that they have turned communal or become sectarian and they don’t tolerate the others (from different communities), then you will have to remember it (denial of admission in SMVDIME). When you don’t accept their (Muslims’) children and tomorrow if some untoward incident takes place, you should not blame the community as a whole,” CM Omar said.

Referring to the involvement of doctors in terror activities and their links to Al-Falah University, he said, “When the students secured admission in that university of Faridabad, then what did the BJP ask? Why do the students from J&K go to such places where they get radicalised – was their question. When the Muslim students are willing to secure admission in a place like Mata Vaishno Devi University... they are not concerned that it is named after Mata Vaishno Devi or that the university is funded by the shrine. Their only aim is to study. They only want to become doctors. But BJP wants to deny them admission on the basis of their religion.”

“Given this scenario, tomorrow, if they go to some place where they get radicalised, then who will be culpable? Will Sunil Sharma admit his culpability then?” the CM said.

“You should not treat Muslim children like this, as it will have its consequences, and then you hold the entire community responsible. Don’t do it,” he said. “I reiterate that if you want the Muslim students not to study in SMVDIME, then please change the university’s status, grant it a minority status. Our children will get admission somewhere else. They will go to Bangladesh, Turkiye, or some other place.”

About setting up the Automated Testing Centre at Nagrota, the CM said, “If we could save even a single life, then I would say that the Centre fully served its purpose. Many precious lives are lost in road accidents. Generally, you would have seen that when the accidents take place, the main complaint that comes to the fore is - the vehicle was not fit to be on the roads.”

He said that the objective of ATCs was to save lives in road accidents.

“We are setting up two Automated Testing Stations (ATCs) – one in Pampore for the Kashmir division and the other one in Nagrota for the Jammu division. So far, their foundation stones have been laid. Both these centres will be constructed along with a private party in a PPP mode. It is hoped that within the six months, both these centres will start functioning. Following it, the vehicles will be tested on computers. The vehicles, which fail tests, will not be allowed to be (plied) on the roads,” CM Omar said.

He said that for the Jammu region, two more such centres would be set up.

“I was just telling my cabinet colleague and the officers that probably a single centre at Nagrota would not be enough for the Jammu region. From Pampore, authorities will be able to cover the entire Valley. But from Nagrota, it will be difficult to cover Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, and Poonch. Therefore, our endeavour will be to open two more such centres – one in Pir Panjal and the other in Chenab Valley so as to ensure testing of maximum possible vehicles, thus reducing the number of accidents on roads,” the CM said.