MLA Tanvir Sadiq National Conference. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
The ruling National Conference (NC) on Tuesday (November 25, 2025) hardened its stand on the controversy surrounding the admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra. She said the university receives grants from the government and “does not run solely on donations from devotees”.
NC leader and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said the Jammu and Kashmir government was providing grant aid to the university and its affiliated medical college. “The university received $24 million last year and $28 million this year. When (Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Assembly) Sunil Sharma-ji talks about the ‘sentiments’ of those donating in the government of Mata Vaishno Devi, the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, he is conveniently giving the university a key fact – he is ignoring,” Mr. Sadiq said.
The documents clearly show that the institution does not work only on donations, he said. “And when it comes to public money, every citizen of this Union Territory has an equal right to be there, regardless of religion or origin,” Sadiq added.
A few days ago, the BJP submitted a memorandum to J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha seeking scrapping of this year’s MBBS list after 42 Muslim students qualified out of a total of 50 seats. The BJP also sought the LG’s intervention to reserve all seats in the university for Hindus as “the donations of Hindu devotees have run out”.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday (November 24, 2025) once again questioned the BJP’s move. “Admissions are done purely on the basis of merit and not on the basis of religion. If you want only Hindus to be selected, then that is fine because those selected will be admitted to other colleges. But when you said that Muslims have become radical and sectarian, then remember that too,” the J&K chief minister said.
When the university came up, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should have applied for minority status, he said. “Why didn’t you give it minority status? You should have given it, but you didn’t. Now, if you don’t want Muslims to study in it, that’s fine, sir. You declare it a minority institute. Please do it,” Mr Abdullah said.
Mr Abdullah warned against “exclusionary approaches”. “Such an approach could lead to social distancing. If students are pushed away and later accused of alienation or influence, responsibility must be taken. If the status is changed, those who have qualified NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) will get a chance at other places. Our youth will go to Bangladesh or Turkey, but they should not be blamed later,” the NC leader said.
J&K Waqf Board member Sohail Kazmi also objected to the BJP’s stand that only Hindus should be admitted to the university. “Much of the Waqf Board properties have been leased out to non-Muslims in J&K. The Waqf runs purely on donations. I myself have visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and offered donations. What about secular people like me? Shall we ban Hindus from offering donations in Ajmer Sharif tomorrow?” said Mr. Kazmi.
Published – 25 Nov 2025 22:01 IST
