{"id":25806,"date":"2025-12-03T05:14:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T05:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/religion-no-criterion-omar-abdullah-on-vaishno-devi-college-admission-row-bjp-team-meets-nadda-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T05:14:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T05:14:21","slug":"religion-no-criterion-omar-abdullah-on-vaishno-devi-college-admission-row-bjp-team-meets-nadda-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/religion-no-criterion-omar-abdullah-on-vaishno-devi-college-admission-row-bjp-team-meets-nadda-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Religion No Criterion&#8217;: Omar Abdullah On Vaishno Devi College Admission Row, BJP Team Meets Nadda | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9745856\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-3759419209\">December 03, 2025, 09:12 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9745856\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 asubttl-schema\">The college, run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has been accused by several activists and politicians that it is admitting mostly Muslims for its MBBS programme.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801\">\n<figure class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Outfits protesting outside the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. (Photo: X)\" title=\"Outfits protesting outside the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. (Photo: X)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Outfits protesting outside the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. (Photo: X)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Amid the ongoing clash over the admission of Muslim students for the MBBS programme at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday defended merit-based admissions, saying seats cannot be distributed on the basis of religion under the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">\u201cWhen the decision was taken to set up a medical college at the university, it was already known that seats could not be distributed on the basis of religion. Approval was granted on the basis of NEET. The only criterion of NEET is merit,&#8221; Abdullah said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">The National Conference leader said those who secured admission through NEET are now being punished because of their religion.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Criticising attempts to seek religious segregation in admissions at the college, Abdullah said, \u201cNeither the law nor the Constitution permits this, nor does the policy of the university allow denial of admission based on religious segregation.&#8221; He asserted that merit alone determines selection.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">\u201cIf you want the distribution of seats on the basis of religion, then you must stop taking grant-in-aid and the land given free of cost \u2014 you must pay for both. Only then can you change the university rules to reserve seats for one religion. We will have no objection to that,&#8221; the J&amp;K Chief Minister said.<\/p>\n<h4>BJP Delegation Meets Nadda<\/h4>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Meanwhile, a BJP delegation met Union minister JP Nadda on Tuesday in Delhi, seeking reservation for Hindus in admissions at Katra\u2019s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). The party delegation informed Nadda that resentment is brewing over 42 of the 50 MBBS seats in the college\u2019s first batch going to non-Hindus, news agency PTI reported citing a spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">The college, run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has been accused by a certain section of activists and politicians with charges of bias for admitting mostly Muslims for its MBBS programme.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">Over the past fortnight, right-wing Hindutva groups have held multiple protests demanding the shifting of Muslim students from the college and the Hindu reservation.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">The party said the issue has triggered strong reactions among devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi and donors to the shrine. The delegation said it is important to acknowledge the sentiments of millions of devotees associated with the shrine and urged the minister to intervene and find an \u201cemotionally acceptable&#8221; solution.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\"><em>(With agency inputs)<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 atawrap\">\n<h2 class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 atahead\">About the Author<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"News Desk\" title=\"News Desk\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/news-desk-17918.html\" class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 atamail\">News Desk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, &#8230;<span class=\"jsx-5f6769d099ba5825 aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff4fe2ed9527ebb3 midgprfd\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ff4fe2ed9527ebb3 midgprfdbtn\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/google-color.svg\" width=\"36\" height=\"36\" alt=\"\" class=\"jsx-ff4fe2ed9527ebb3\"\/><span class=\"jsx-ff4fe2ed9527ebb3\">Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Jammu and Kashmir, India, India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>December 03, 2025, 08:58 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> &#8216;Religion No Criterion&#8217;: Omar Abdullah On Vaishno Devi College Admission Row, BJP Team Meets Nadda<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ee90caf6118df965 jsx-343767801 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/religion-no-criterion-omar-abdullah-on-vaishno-devi-college-admission-row-bjp-delegation-meets-nadda-9745856.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:December 03, 2025, 09:12 IST The college, run by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has been accused by several activists and politicians that it is admitting mostly Muslims for its MBBS programme. Outfits protesting outside the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. (Photo: X) Amid the ongoing clash over&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25806"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25806\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}