Jammu, Jan 09 : Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo has launched a sharp critique against the revocation of recognition for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), calling the act “an act of misfortune” driven by political games and the exploitation of religion.
Minister Itoo, as per the Kashmir News Service (KNS), expressed deep concern over the fallout for the affected students and the broader implications for medical education in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our medical colleges are hard to come by. Our children qualify through NEET and secure their seats on merit,” Itoo said. “To terminate something that was granted is profoundly unfortunate. This institution should have been strengthened to produce more doctors for our people. Instead, for the sake of political games, it is being targeted by exploiting religious sentiments. This is blatantly obvious and deeply regrettable.”
Addressing the specific plight of the displaced students, Minister Itoo, as per news agency KNS, said, “These children are deeply depressed. They have been targeted and made scapegoats, despite earning their admission through NEET merit, not by any special favour. They qualified and were admitted fairly.”
She stated that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the department to ensure the affected students are admitted to the nearest possible medical colleges within Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest. “The department is already working on this. I have also directed the Secretary to prepare a proposal to relieve these students from the mental torture they have endured for months and allow them to continue their MBBS studies smoothly,” she said.
Questioning the NMC’s timing, Itoo, as per news agency KNS, said, “If the MCI (Medical Council of India, predecessor to NMC) conducted an inspection earlier and granted recognition, why were shortcomings not rectified then? Why are they being noticed now only after certain parties criticized why Muslim students were given admission? To cancel the college on this basis is extremely unfortunate.”
Minister Itoo said, “A doctor’s oath is taken in the name of humanity, not religion. Doctors treat patients as human beings, not as Hindus or Muslims.” She added, “I pray that those behind torturing these future doctors may one day need treatment from them. They will then realize that a doctor is not defined by religion. Religion should never be used in education, nor should politics be played with education. The National Conference has never allowed, nor will it ever allow, politics in the name of religion.”
Earlier speaking at the Shri Aurobindo Gyan Kendra in the Dhanvantri Library, University of Jammu, Education Minister Sakina Itoo as per News Agency KNS said that certain forces are spreading hate and dividing people in the name of religion for political gain. She asserted that politics should not be conducted in the name of religion, education, or medicine, and we should refrain from involving politics in such matters.
She said there is plenty to do in politics, but we should at least not touch such important aspects for political purposes.
The Education Minister said, “We can criticize the government; we can debate development and discuss educational issues. But we cannot bring religion into it.” She expressed sorrow, stating, “It pains me to see these things happening now; such issues did not arise before.”
Minister Itoo said, “Jammu and Kashmir was once a state. Today, if it is a Union Territory, that is also unfortunate. This happened because of people like us, we are all responsible. Due to those who divide people, we lost many of the powers we once had. Our former state of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished.”
She said we must all set aside religion, embrace humanity, and move forward. The Jammu and Kashmir Education Department should endeavour to inculcate a positive educational outlook in as many children as possible.
Notably, her remarks follow the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to derecognize SMVDIME, citing serious lapses in meeting minimum standards. The order mandates the transfer of all existing MBBS students to other recognised colleges within the Union Territory.
The college has been at the centre of a fierce political controversy since its inaugural batch for 2025-26 revealed that 42 of its 50 students were Muslims, with one Sikh and only eight Hindu students from Jammu. This demographic composition triggered intense protests from several Hindu right-wing groups in the Jammu region. (KNS)
