Omar Abdullah's Sharp Rebuke: Find Land Value, Give Up Aid for Minority Status

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has waded into the Mata Vaishno Devi medical college admissions controversy. He suggested that if there's a demand for religion-based reservations, the institute should forego government support. Abdullah firmly stated that admissions are strictly based on NEET merit. He also commented on electoral processes, urging the Election Commission to clarify the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Key Points: Omar Abdullah on Mata Vaishno Medical College Admission Row

  • J&K CM suggests college become a minority institution if it wants religion-based admissions
  • Abdullah states admissions are merit-based as the college follows NEET directives
  • He challenges protesters to assess the land's value and stop taking government aid
  • Abdullah also calls for EC to explain the Special Intensive Revision to all parties
3 min read

Find value of land, give up govt aid: Omar Abdullah on Mata Vaishno Medical college admission controversy

J&K CM Omar Abdullah says if people want religion-based seats, the college should become a minority institution and forego government aid and land.

"If you want to divide the college based on religion, then you keep it for minorities. The grant in aid which is given from the government, we can use that money somewhere else. - Omar Abdullah"

Jammu, December 3

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that if people are actually interested in having reserved seats in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, then they should consider making it a minority institution, and give up the government aid given to the college.

The J-K CM's comments come after a delegation of BJP MPs met with party chief JP Nadda, flagging the issue of the college. When asked about the idea of building "gurukul" at the college grounds, Abdullah said that "no one has stopped them" from making one.

"Why ask the same question everytime? Who has stopped them? You make a gurukul. If you want to divide the college based on religion, then you keep it for minorities. The grant in aid which is given from the government, we can use that money somewhere else, we have no problems. The land which was allotted there, you find out the value of the land, stop the grant in aid given to you, change your status, become a minority status," the J-K CM said.

He said admissions in college is merit based, since the college has accepted NEET directives too.

"After this if you want to divide seats based on religion then you do it, who is stopping you? You agreed to NEET, in NEET only merit is seen. If you kids do not get merit list then how can you blame others?" he asked.

Speaking on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the J-K further called on the Election Commission of India to ensure all political parties should be explained on the exercise too.

"If some political parties are against SIR, the EC should call those parties and explain what SIR is all about. I believe no vote theft can be committed using machines (EVMs), but an election can still be manipulated. The delimitation conducted here was also a manipulation. You increased 6 seats in Jammu to benefit one party. It would be better if EC calls all of us and explains what SIR is," he said.

Earlier on November 28, National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected a proposal from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, Katra, seeking to place 100 per cent of its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ) to be filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), following a row over MBBS admissions.

An NMC official said that such a move goes against existing policy.

"We cannot have one institute in isolation to put 100% into MCC because there are government policies that this percent of seats goes to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and this per cent of seats goes to the state counselling," a National Medical Commission official told ANI.

The Sangharsh Samiti, protesting against the admissions in the college, said that a majority of students in the MBBS admissions were muslim. The protesters have demanded a change in the selection criteria following the release of the list.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a very sensitive issue in J&K. While I understand the desire for community representation, medical seats are a national resource. The CM's point about using government funds elsewhere if they want minority status is valid. Let's not communalize education.
A
Aman W
The protestors' demand to change criteria just because a majority of selected students are from one community is wrong. Did they score higher or not? That's all that matters. We can't have different rules for different groups in professional courses.
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Sarah B
As an observer, the CM's argument seems financially and ethically sound. You cannot have both state aid and the freedom to implement religious-based reservations. The "value of the land" point is interesting – it holds institutions accountable for the public assets they use.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while the principle is right, the tone feels a bit confrontational. This is a complex issue for the people of Jammu. A more conciliatory approach from leadership might help calm tensions rather than the "who is stopping you" rhetoric. The goal should be a peaceful resolution.
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Nisha Z
The real issue is the NMC rejecting the 100% AIQ proposal. That seems like a policy bottleneck. If all seats went through MCC, maybe these local controversies could be avoided? The system needs streamlining.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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