MBBS Admission Row: Protests Rock Jammu Lok Bhawan, LG's Effigy Burnt. What's The Underlying Issue

Jammu: Hindu groups held a protest in Jammu over the composition of the first MBBS batch at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, asking for cancellation of admissions to the medical institute, after most of the candidates who have been selected were from a particular community.

Visuals from the Lok Bhawan in Jammu showed agitated protesters from various Hindu groups, especially the the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, burning an effigy of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha. The protesters also hurled slogans against Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the LG.

It has also been reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) women's wing has also joined in the protest against the LG, who has been appointed by their own government at the Centre. This marks the first time the LG is facing protests ever since he has been appointed to his post.

The protesters carried Vaishno Devi flags and chanted "Go back, LG, Go back" slogans. One of the protesters shouted, "All we want is to shut the medical college. Why do they want a medical college in Katra? Take it anywhere else. In the shrine of India's Sanatan Dharma, this college is not acceptable." 

A scuffle broke out between the angry protesters and police personnel as the latter tried to control the crowd. 

What's The Issue

Hindu groups have been demanding shifting of Muslim students from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence and reservation of seats for the Hindu students. However, they zoned in on this demand only when the first MBBS batch comprising 50 students who were selected through NEET saw that the student composition was skewed in favour of one religious group. 

This batch formulated comprised 42 Muslim candidates from Kashmir, seven Hindu students from Jammu and one Sikh candidate.

What Is Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti

The protesters conglomerated under the banner of under the banner of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti which included members from various trade associations, the Bar Association, social organisations and religious bodies. The loosely-formed group had earlier demonstrated against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir government.

What's Their Argument

According to Samiti convener Colonel Sukhvir Singh Mankotia, Hindu devotees have been making offerings at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine out of faith and the Shrine Board, constituted in 1988, should in return ensure the safety and smooth darshan for all the pilgrims. He went on to explain that the Board should promote Sanatan Dharma, gurukuls, gaushalas and preservation of ancient temples. Reports indicate that the Samiti leaders claimed that offerings at the shrine should be utilised exclusively for Sanatan Dharma-related activities.

What Is The National Medical Commission's Stand

Earlier last month, the National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected a proposal from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, Katra, that sought to place 100 per cent of its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) to be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). 

An NMC official said the move goes against existing policy. 

"We cannot have one institute in isolation to put 100% into MCC because there are government policies that this percentage of seats goes to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and this percentage of seats goes to the state counselling," a National Medical Commission official told ANI. 

"We cannot deviate from one organisation in isolation or randomly. If we have to issue this specifically for this organisation, an amendment is required. When we make a policy amendment, we must keep similar institutions in mind. If there is a change in policy or percentage, the institute can make changes in admission norms," he added. 

"We have to draw a criterion. And this criterion is to be acceptable to the state, also to other states," the official explained.

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