Delegation urges LG to address public grievances and restore trust in admission process.
Jammu, November 22:
Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan on Friday evening to convey growing public concerns over the recent MBBS admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), an institution administered by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Sharma expressed reservations over the selection process, stating that the admissions have triggered widespread unease among devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and sections of the Hindu community. According to him, the selection of a significant number of non-Hindu candidates has caused “deep distress” among many followers of the shrine.
He said that the matter, as perceived by the public, extends beyond academic merit and touches upon the cultural and faith-related expectations associated with institutions linked to the revered shrine. Sharma urged the Lieutenant Governor to review the admission criteria, strengthen transparency measures, and ensure that the sentiments of the devotee community are adequately factored into the institution’s policies.
He was accompanied by BJP MLAs Sham Lal Sharma, Surjeet Singh Salathia, Dr. Devinder Manyal, and R. S. Pathania. The delegation reiterated the party’s commitment to safeguarding the cultural and religious sentiments of the region, particularly those of Mata Vaishno Devi devotees.
The leaders emphasised that institutions under the Shrine Board carry a significance that is not merely administrative or academic but also symbolic of the region’s spiritual heritage. Any decision perceived as disregarding the sentiments of devotees, they observed, could lead to broader social and emotional consequences.
The delegation appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and take corrective measures to address public grievances and restore confidence in the admission process at SMVDIME. They urged that the concerns of the devotee community be given due attention to maintain harmony and uphold the sanctity associated with Shrine Board institutions.