Jammu, November 26, 2025 : The ongoing controversy over admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) escalated on Monday after National Conference (NC) MLA and party spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq claimed that the institution receives substantial financial assistance from the Jammu & Kashmir Government.
Sadiq, in a post on X, asserted that the J&K government provides regular grants-in-aid to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), the affiliating body of SMVDIME.
He cited figures of ₹24 crore last year and ₹28 crore this year, arguing that the college does not operate solely on donations.
“When public money is involved, every citizen of the UT has an equal right to be there — irrespective of religion or background,” Sadiq said, sharing what he described as official documentation.
Omar Abdullah: Declare It a Minority Institution If You Want to Restrict Admissions
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah once again defended the admission of Muslim students, insisting that SMVDIME cannot legally deny admission on religious grounds unless it is formally recognised as a minority institution.
“The admissions were done as per prescribed guidelines. This is not a minority institution. If they don’t want Muslims here, then declare it as such. The one Sikh and 42 Muslim students can then be moved elsewhere,” Abdullah said.
He also criticised those opposed to the admissions for branding Muslim students as “communal and sectarian,” adding that exclusionary policies could push Kashmiri students to pursue education outside India.
“Our children can go to Bangladesh or Turkey for education,” he remarked, linking the issue to wider concerns about radicalisation narratives targeting Kashmiri youth.
BJP: Only Followers of Hindu Faith Should Study Here
In a sharp counter, BJP J&K chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma said the college should limit admissions exclusively to Hindu students.
“Only those who follow the Hindu faith and its culture should get admission. We have raised the matter with the Lieutenant Governor, and hope it will be resolved soon,” Sharma stated.
Debate Widens Over Public Money, Equality & Religious Rights
The dispute has triggered broader questions about:
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Use of state funds in private-religious-linked institutions
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Equal access to publicly funded education
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Minority institution status and legal protections
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Religious discrimination in admissions
Omar Abdullah maintained that merit must remain the primary criterion, while Sadiq’s assertions about government funding have added a new layer of scrutiny to the institution’s functioning.
