JAMMU, Jan 6: Police on Tuesday sealed the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to prevent any protest following a call by the recently formed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti over MBBS admissions at the SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), officials said.
The Sangharsh Samiti has alleged religious bias by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in the admission of non-Hindu students and demanded either rescission of the admission process or closure of the medical college. The group has also threatened to intensify the agitation through signature campaigns and boycotts.
Officials said hundreds of police personnel, led by senior officers, were deployed outside the Civil Secretariat to avert any law and order situation. A police official said no protesters would be allowed anywhere near the Secretariat premises.
Leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti have further alleged misuse of shrine funds and sought intervention from BJP leaders and the Lieutenant Governor. Several right-wing organisations have also raised objections to the admission process, attempting to project the issue as controversial.
However, the government has categorically rejected the allegations, stating that all admissions at the medical college have been conducted strictly on the basis of merit and not religion. Officials reiterated that the selection process adheres to prescribed norms and regulations governing medical admissions.
Authorities said the situation remained under control, with security arrangements put in place as a precautionary measure to maintain public order in the high-security zone. (KNT)
