Omar Abdullah Demands Closure of Vaishno Devi Medical College Amid Admission Row

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for the closure of the newly opened Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College, citing the controversy over the admission of 46 Muslim students out of a total of 50 in the MBBS course. Abdullah accused the BJP of engaging in communal politics and urged the government to adjust the students in other medical colleges. The row began when locals and Hindu organizations demanded reservation for Hindu candidates, claiming that the college was largely funded by donations from Hindu devotees at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Abdullah questioned the BJP's motives, saying that the students had secured their seats through hard work and not favoritism. "I don't feel that students themselves would like to study there. We request the government to adjust these children in other colleges. We wouldn't want them to study where there's so much politics," Abdullah said. The controversy has led to protests by the Youth Wing of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, which accused the Jammu and Kashmir government of discriminatory policies and a flawed selection process. Bajrang Dal activists also held a protest, burning an effigy of the shrine board. The situation has sparked a wider debate on communal politics in education, with Abdullah accusing the BJP of dragging religion into everything, from sports to food habits. The row has also highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in the education sector. As the controversy continues, the Jammu and Kashmir government has sealed the civil secretariat to prevent any further protests. The issue is set to become a major point of contention in the state's politics, with Abdullah's call for the closure of the medical college setting the stage for a heated debate.