Jammu and Kashmir CM Urges Consideration for Minority Status at Medical Institute

Chief Minister's Remarks on Medical Institute

On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah suggested that if individuals are genuinely interested in the reserved seats at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, they should contemplate designating it as a minority institution and consider withdrawing government funding for the college. This statement followed a meeting between a delegation of BJP MPs and party president J.P. Nadda, where they raised concerns regarding the college.

When questioned about the proposal to establish a 'Gurukul' on the college campus, Abdullah remarked that no one has prevented such an initiative. He questioned why the same issue arises repeatedly and asked who has stopped them from creating the Gurukul. He emphasized that if the college is to be divided along religious lines, it should be exclusively for minorities. He stated that the government grants received could be redirected elsewhere without any issues.

Abdullah clarified that admissions to the college are based on merit, as the institution adheres to NEET guidelines. He challenged those wanting to allocate seats based on religion, asking who would stop them. He pointed out that NEET only considers merit, and if students do not make it onto the merit list, they cannot blame others.

Speaking about the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR), Abdullah called on the Election Commission of India to ensure that all political parties are informed about the process. He expressed concern that if certain parties oppose the SIR, the commission should engage with them to clarify its purpose. He believes that while electronic voting machines (EVMs) cannot be used to steal votes, election manipulation is possible, citing the recent delimitation in Jammu that allegedly favored one party by increasing their seats.