‘Communalisation of education’: From Kashmir, a sharp response to Vaishno Devi medical college row

The National Medical Council’s (NMC) decision to withdraw permission to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) for an MBBS course has drawn sharp political reactions, with leaders from Jammu and Kashmir describing it as “communalisation” of education.

On Tuesday, the National Medical Council withdrew the Letter of Permission (LoP) issued to the institute to start the MBBS course for the academic year 2025-26. The institute had admitted 50 students for the course, most of them Kashmir Muslims, based on their performance in the NEET examination.

The decision, which comes amid protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party and several right-wing groups against the admission of Muslim students and an agitation launched over the issue, has led political leaders to caution that it could have “severe consequences”.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti told The Indian Express that the decision starkly exposes the “damaging consequences of the communalisation of education”.

“Instead of treating the disease, the patient is being punished for no fault,” she said.

Even more disturbing, she went on to say, is the possibility that if “this can be done to a prestigious institution like SMVD, it could be replicated elsewhere as well, placing the future of hardworking youth at grave risk”.

Students coming out of college after administration called off classes. (Express photo)

“That this comes in the backdrop of BJP’s calls to restrict admissions on religious lines makes it more sinister. Unfortunately, our chief minister appears to be on the same page with this decision, raising serious doubts and troubling concerns.”

Meanwhile, the ruling National Conference has termed the decision unfortunate.

“I believe that this is not a healthy issue for a democratic country. If we say that admissions in educational institutions should happen on the basis of religion or region, it is harmful for a healthy society,” said senior National Conference leader and minister Javed Rana.

He went on to say: “We have seen politics being done over mandir and masjid, but it is unfortunate that today we talk about admissions in prestigious institutions on the basis of religion or region. What is this direction that we’re giving to our society? They [the leadership in the country] want to take us back a thousand years, while advanced societies think about 1,000 years of the future.”

In a statement, NC state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said the move “exposes the BJP’s reckless and insensitive approach towards education”, accusing the party of playing dangerous politics with the careers of young people.

“This is perhaps the first instance in independent India where a communally divisive party is celebrating the de-recognition of a medical college. This is dystopia in practice and a tragic moment for the people of Jammu,” he said.

The decision, he claimed, was neither accidental nor technical but a direct outcome of criminal negligence and a deeply flawed administrative and communal mindset. “Despite having complete control at the Centre and in the Union Territory, the BJP failed to ensure even basic compliance with mandatory medical council norms. The sudden emergence of such discrepancies raises serious questions and exposes this move as a smokescreen to hide the BJP’s divisive agenda,” he said.

Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azeem Mattu described it as a “regressive step to appease the communal voices”.

“That this retrograde, shameless and regressive step is being celebrated by the right wing in Jammu should be enough to tell you what has happened and why — to slyly appease the communal voices that had brazenly objected to Muslim students being admitted to the institute through NEET,” he said.

Calling it a murder of inclusivity, equality and fairness, Mattu said the decision has been taken to appease Jammu.

“This political decision dressed as a ‘regulatory measure’ will be recorded in our history as a blot on our Constitution, our civilisation and the very idea of India,” he said.

“The gun has been fired from the shoulder of the National Medical Commission, but we know who pulled the trigger and why.”

“This is not only the murder of inclusivity, equality and fairness enshrined by the idea of India, this is also the unceremonious death of statesmanship,” he said.

“A divisive, disruptive and communal fringe has been appeased in Jammu, and this won’t be the last time that’s done,” he added.

The BJP, however, has welcomed the decision as one of “quality over quantity”.

“The NMC has revoked permission for 50 MBBS seats at SMVDIME due to a failure to meet essential standards,” BJP leader and legislator R S Pathania posted on X. “It reaffirms commitment to quality. Every affected student will be seamlessly transferred to a supernumerary seat in other UT colleges.”

On January 2, a team from the National Medical Council arrived in Jammu for an inspection and decided to withdraw permission for the medical course four days later.

The withdrawal came four months after the council’s September 8, 2025, Letter of Permission for 50 MBBS seats and after days of protests by the BJP and several right-wing groups.