Overview
- A large crowd gathered outside Jammu’s Lok Bhavan, blocked the main road for over 90 minutes and clashed with police as tensions escalated over SMVDIME admissions.
- Activists from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti led the protest, joined by BJP women’s wing members and trade leaders including JCCI president Arun Gupta, while an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was set on fire.
- Protesters demanded cancellation of the inaugural MBBS list, reservation of seats exclusively for Hindu students and the transfer of admitted Muslim candidates to other colleges.
- The 50-seat batch was admitted last month on NEET merit, with reports noting 42 Muslim candidates, seven Hindus and one Sikh, mostly from Kashmir and Jammu respectively.
- The National Medical Commission has refused a bid to shift 100% of seats to the All-India Quota; Chief Minister Omar Abdullah insists admissions must remain merit-based as BJP allies seek legal changes, and authorities have announced no reversal.