The peaceful hills of Jammu's Ramban district turned loud and colorful on Wednesday, November 26, 2025! The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti staged a spirited protest, demanding that all MBBS seats at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) be reserved solely for Hindu students. Retired Subedar Major Surinder Singh Jamwal, president of the Samiti in Ramban, voiced the core of their fiery demand. He said, “The Samiti, which has been formulated, held a protest in Ramban. This was after a particular community secured 42 MBBS seats, seven Hindus seven and one by a Sikh candidate at the varsity’s medical college. Money for varsity is donated by those affiliated to Sanathan Dharam and should benefit our own people.” Jamwal insists their fight isn’t against any particular community but against the university's policies that, according to him, fail to protect the interests of donors from the Hindu faith. The Samiti wants the cancellation of the NEET selection list where 42 Muslims qualified for MBBS seats at SMVDU, arguing that the shrine's donors—mainly Hindus—deserve preference. Backing this protest, the BJP submitted a strong memorandum to Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, urging cancellation of the selection list and rules to favor Hindu aspirants. BJP spokesperson Sunil Sethi said, “Since the varsity is run on the donations given at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine so Hindu students have primary right. The rights of the students who have got admission will be secured.” Even BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana pitched in, emphasizing two points: merit and the local population’s majority community. “Two things are important. One is merit, and the other is the fact that around 70% of the people here belong to a particular community, so they naturally choose that option. Apart from that, if an institution is associated with any faith, that factor also matters and should be taken into consideration. There is no Hindu-Muslim angle in this,” he explained. But the J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised a strong voice against mixing religion with education. Speaking at Jamia Zia Ul Uloom in Poonch, he questioned, “Even in medical colleges, it is said that Muslims or non-Hindus should not study here. Now, we will put aside the merits of the children and start making decisions on the basis of religion. Where will the constitution of the country go?” He praised Jamia Zia Ul Uloom as a shining example of merit-based education and hope for communal harmony. Abdullah added, “The institution and its head, Maulana Ghulam Qadir Sahib, had supported the government in maintaining community harmony and had assisted during natural disasters. Students from the institute have succeeded in competitive exams such as UPSC, KAS (Kashmir Administrative Service), and KPS (Kashmir Police Service).” The protests, the demands, and the strong remarks from leaders mark a sharp moment in Jammu and Kashmir. The question now: Will education remain a place for merit, or will religion draw new lines in the sandy grounds of admission?