India has closed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Reasi, Kashmir, following protests by right-wing Hindu groups. They objected to the admission of 42 Muslim students out of 50 in the college’s first MBBS batch. Authorities said the closure was due to alleged infrastructure and faculty deficiencies, including library, hospital, and operating theatre shortfalls.
The college admitted students based on the National Entrance Examination Test (NEET), a merit-based, religion-neutral exam conducted by India’s federal education authorities. Most students were from Kashmir, while only seven were Hindu and one Sikh. Students and parents, including 18-year-old Saniya Jan, said the college was well-equipped, with adequate faculty, cadavers for dissection, and supportive staff.
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Right-wing Hindu groups claimed the college was funded by donations to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple and argued Hindu students should get priority. Protesters gathered daily outside the campus, and BJP legislators petitioned the lieutenant governor to restrict admissions to Hindus. The agitation escalated to calls for the college’s complete closure, which the National Medical Commission enforced on January 6.
Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and local officials assured that students would not suffer due to the shutdown. He said all 50 students would be placed in other medical colleges with supernumerary seats. Abdullah condemned the BJP and allied Hindu groups for targeting Muslim students and risking their educational futures. Other leaders noted the college had received over $13 million in government aid, making all Kashmiris legitimate stakeholders.
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Experts warned the controversy could communalize education in the region. Student leaders noted that Muslim-run universities in India admit Hindu students under minority quotas, highlighting a double standard. Students like Saniya Jan expressed frustration, saying, “We cleared one of India’s hardest exams, and now our merit is judged by religion.”