LG Sinha faces heat as non-Hindu MBBS selections trigger massive backlash

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has found himself at the centre of a major controversy after the first-ever MBBS admissions in the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, near here. There is widespread anger among devotees, social groups, and political leaders, as only 7 of the 50 students were Hindus.

Daily protests by saffron organisations against these admissions have rocked the Jammu region, which saw the elections of 29 BJP MLAs.

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The institute functions under the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, and the protestors point out that the medical college runs with the donations offered by Hindu devotees at the shrine.

A demand is being made for declaring the medical college a minority institute and reserving seats for Hindus. It is being highlighted that of the 50 students, 42 were Muslims.

Protests against the LG and BJP over these admissions have shaken the administration, and the Shrine Board is likely to discuss the issue in its next meeting.

While the controversy continues to grow, the Shrine Board and the administration have not issued an official statement so far.

The dispute erupted soon after the selection list was made public, with several organisations and community bodies questioning the predominant selection of non-Hindu candidates in an institute funded and managed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Devotees argued that while admissions must remain merit-based, institutions built with offerings made at a revered Hindu shrine should be more “culturally conscious” and “sensitive to the faith and emotions of the yatris”.

A Vaishnodevi Sangharsh Samiti has also been formed to spearhead the agitation.
Facing the heat over these admissions, Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly and BJP leader, Sunil Sharma, last evening called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan to convey the growing public anger over the recent MBBS admissions at the SMVDIME.

Sharma expressed strong reservations about the selection process, stating that the admissions have sparked widespread resentment among devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and sections of the larger Hindu community.

He told the Lieutenant Governor that the selection of a significant number of non-Hindu students has caused “deep distress” among devotees who associate Shrine Board–managed institutions with cultural and spiritual expectations linked to the revered shrine.

The LoP urged the administration to review the admission criteria, ensure greater transparency, and incorporate the sensitivities of the Hindu community in future selections. He said that public sentiment reflects a belief that the issue goes beyond academic merit and touches upon cultural and faith-related expectations attached to institutions functioning under the Shrine Board.

Sharma was accompanied by a delegation of BJP legislators, including Sham Lal Sharma, Surjeet Singh Salathia, Dr Devinder Manyal, and RS Pathania. The delegation reiterated the BJP’s commitment to safeguarding cultural and religious sentiments and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and take corrective measures to restore confidence in the admission process.

Emphasising the unique character of the Shrine Board and its institutions, the LoP said these bodies represent not only educational aspirations but also the cultural and spiritual identity of the region. Any decision that appears to disregard the sentiments of devotees, he cautioned, could lead to social and emotional repercussions.

The delegation urged the Lieutenant Governor to initiate immediate steps to address the grievances raised by devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and ensure that the functioning of the Shrine Board–affiliated institutions remains aligned with public expectations.

Meanwhile, political activists and youths from Kashmir have taken to the social media saying that the MBBS admissions were based on merit and there was nothing wrong in these.