Jammu protests erupt over MBBS admissions at Vaishno Devi college
Hindu groups in Jammu staged protests after 42 out of 50 MBBS seats at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) went to Muslim students through NEET.
The protesters, led by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, are demanding reservations for Hindu students, pointing out that the ₹600 crore college was built with donations from Hindu devotees.
Why does it matter?
This controversy has sparked heated debates about religion and merit in education.
While Deputy CM Surender Chaudhary emphasized that admissions were based purely on NEET scores, not religion, critics argue that ignoring community sentiments could fuel unrest.
Suggestions like swapping seats between colleges have been floated to ease tensions.
The incident highlights just how tricky it can be to balance fairness, regional quotas, and religious feelings—especially in a sensitive place like Jammu.