Security measures were increased at the civil secretariat in Jammu on Tuesday in response to a protest call by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti (SMVDSS). The group is objecting to the admission of non-Hindu candidates at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence.
To address the situation, a significant police presence, including senior officers, was stationed outside the Civil Secretariat to prevent any potential disturbances. The Sangharsh Samiti has demanded the cancellation of the admission process or the closure of the medical college, with plans for a signature campaign and boycott if their demands are not met.
Authorities emphasized that all admissions at the medical college were based solely on merit, not religion, following established norms and regulations for medical admissions. The government clarified that the institute is not a minority institution and receives grants from the J&K government, refuting claims of religious bias in the admission process.
Right-wing organizations have also raised concerns about the admission process, aiming to portray it as a contentious issue. The situation has been kept under control with precautionary security arrangements in place to uphold public order in the high-security zone.
