Omar Abdullah Defends Merit-Based Admissions at Vaishno Devi Institute Amid Controversy

By A Staff Reporter

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday strongly defended the ongoing merit-based admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, asserting that the founding legislation never allowed exclusion of any community. His remarks came amid a growing political row over allegations that candidates from a particular religious community were being unfairly admitted to the institution.

Abdullah questioned the basis of the controversy, reminding critics that the Assembly-approved bill establishing the university clearly mandated admissions solely on merit. “When the Assembly had passed the bill to establish Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, where was it written that boys and girls belonging to one particular community will be kept out of it?” he said. “It was said that admission to the university will be done based only on merit, not on religion.”

Responding directly to comments made by BJP leader Sunil Sharma, Abdullah urged him to review the relevant provisions of the Act. “If you want to conduct admissions without merit, then one should approach the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that the Constitution’s commitment to secularism was non-negotiable. “If you don't want to keep this country secular, then remove this word from the Constitution,” he remarked, questioning the logic of targeting meritorious aspirants. “What is the mistake of the aspirants who gained admission on merit?... Then they should also clearly say that Muslims will not be treated in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi hospital.”