India has shut down the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Reasi, Indian Occupied Kashmir, following protests by right-wing Hindu groups over the admission of a majority of Muslim students, reported Al-Jazeera.
Of the 50 students in the inaugural MBBS batch, 42 were Muslims, seven Hindus, and one Sikh.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) revoked the college’s recognition on January 6, citing deficiencies in faculty, patient flow, libraries, and teaching facilities.
The move comes amid intense protests by local Hindu groups, who argued that Muslim students had “no business” attending a college funded largely by donations to a Hindu temple.
The BJP has maintained that it never opposed Muslim students at SMVDMI, but urged respect for the “legitimate sentiments” of millions of Hindu devotees linked to the temple trust that founded the college.
“This college is named after Mata Vaishno Devi, and millions of devotees have strong emotional ties to the shrine,” BJP Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur told Al Jazeera. “The NMC withdrew recognition due to several shortcomings. This issue is not about Hindus versus Muslims.”
BJP legislators even petitioned the Kashmir lieutenant governor to reserve seats for Hindu students, the Al-Jazeera said.
Admissions to Indian medical colleges are based on the centralised NEET exam. Students told media that the college was well-equipped, with adequate facilities, faculty, and cadavers for practical learning.
Despite this, protests continued daily, escalating demands to close the college. The NMC cited regulatory shortcomings as the official reason, while critics see the closure as bowing to pressure from right-wing groups.
