Big protests lit up Jammu's Ramban on Wednesday, November 26, 2025! The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti demanded that all MBBS seats at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) in Katra should be reserved for Hindus. Why? Because they say the university is funded by donors linked to Sanatan Dharma and should serve their people first. Retired Subedar Major Surinder Singh Jamwal, president of the Sangharsh Samiti Ramban, told reporters, "The Samiti, which has been formulated, held a protest in Ramban. This was after a particular community secured 42 MBBS seats, seven Hindus, seven, and one by a Sikh candidate at the varsity’s medical college. Money for varsity is donated by those affiliated to Sanathan Dharam and should benefit our own people." The Samiti also demanded the cancellation of the NEET selection list, pointing out that 42 Muslims qualified for MBBS seats at SMVDU. "Our protest is not against any community but the policies of the varsity’s administration, which has failed to draft a policy to reserve seats for those who donate money," Mr. Jamwal added. Not far behind, the BJP joined the chorus, delivering a memorandum to the J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, asking to cancel the selection list and amend rules favoring Hindu students. BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi exclaimed, "Since the varsity is run on the donations given at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine so Hindu students have primary right. The rights of the students who have got admission will be secured." BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana also threw his weight behind the demand, insisting merit matters but highlighting the local population’s community distribution and the faith affiliation of the institution. He said, "Two things are important. One is merit, and the other is the fact that around 70% of the people here belong to a particular community, so they naturally choose that option. Apart from that, if an institution is associated with any faith, that factor also matters and should be taken into consideration. There is no Hindu-Muslim angle in this." On the flip side, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed the protests, worrying about education being colored by religion. Speaking at Jamia Zia Ul Uloom in Poonch, he said, "Even in medical colleges, it is said that Muslims or non-Hindus should not study here. Now, we will put aside the merits of the children and start making decisions on the basis of religion. Where will the constitution of the country go?" He praised the Jamia Zia Ul Uloom as a beacon of merit and constitutional values, noting, "The institution and its head, Maulana Ghulam Qadir Sahib, had supported the government in maintaining community harmony and had assisted during natural disasters. Students from the institute have succeeded in competitive exams such as UPSC, KAS (Kashmir Administrative Service), and KPS (Kashmir Police Service)." The row over who deserves MBBS seats at SMVDU, merit or religion, just got hotter. Will administration listen to protests, or will merit prevail? Stay tuned!