The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has strongly objected to the alleged religious composition of the first batch of students at the Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (MVIME) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that only six Hindu students have been admitted out of a total of 50 in the inaugural batch.
In a letter dated November 1 addressed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, VHP general secretary Bajrang Bagra alleged that the remaining 44 students belong to the Muslim community, raising concerns about the “religious imbalance” in an institution affiliated with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage bodies in the country.
“We have learned that in the first batch of 50 students at the Institute of Medical Excellence, only six are Hindus, while 44 are Muslims. This fact not only contradicts religious beliefs but also deeply offends the sentiments of the local and wider Hindu community,” Bagra stated in his letter, according to PTI.
He further alleged that a sizeable portion of the nursing college’s faculty comprises members of the Muslim and Christian communities. The VHP, while acknowledging it is not fully aware of the internal details of the admission process, insisted that institutions under the Shrine Board should reflect the “religious sensitivities, cultural heritage, and expectations of devotees.”
“Institutions linked to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should appropriately accommodate the religious sentiment of the devotees and ensure that the commitment and identity of the institution are not diluted,” Bagra added.
The VHP also urged the Shrine Board to review both its admission and recruitment policies, ensuring that Hindu teachers and staff are appointed to uphold the sanctity of the institution.
“We expect that the Shrine Board, respectfully understanding the gravity of the situation, will promptly review its admission and appointment policies so that the religious commitment of the institution, balance, and the expectations of devotees and society alike are preserved,” the VHP leader said.
In a strong appeal, Bagra further requested that the Shrine Board undertake only such public welfare projects that do not “hurt the sentiments of Mata Rani’s devotees and the devout Hindu community.”
The controversy has sparked a wider debate over the admission process and representation at the newly established medical institute, which was envisioned as part of the Shrine Board’s initiative to enhance healthcare infrastructure in the Union Territory.
Last week, the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal also staged a protest in Jammu, demanding that the Vaishno Devi Medical Institute be granted “minority institution” status, allowing for seat reservation for Hindu students in Jammu and Kashmir.
The VHP’s intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny over educational and cultural institutions associated with major Hindu shrines, with the organisation urging authorities to safeguard the faith-linked identity of such institutions.
