Rajouri, Dec 17: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti on Wednesday held protest demonstrations across Jammu province against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the Jammu and Kashmir government over the ongoing controversy surrounding admissions to the MBBS course in the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) under Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra.
Samiti, which was recently constituted with the stated objective of opposing what it termed as irregularities and injustice in the admission process of the medical college, held protests in different parts of Jammu region against admission to 42 students of a particular community out of total 50 students selected in SMVDIME.
The protesters termed this as a direct affront to the sentiments of the Hindu community, asserting that funds generated through offerings made by pilgrims at the shrine were being utilised for running the university.
As part of the protest, the demonstrators blocked the main Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch National Highway (NH-144A) at Salani bridge in Rajouri, resulting in suspension of vehicular movement for over an hour and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Raising slogans, the protesters demanded that the Shrine Board should ensure transparency and fairness in admissions to the institutions run under its aegis.
Similar protest demonstrations were also held in Poonch, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi and other districts of the province by the respective units of the Sangharsh Samiti.
