PDP leaders castigate NMC for withdrawing permission to SMVDIME

Rajouri, Jan 7: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly reacted to the decision of the National Medical Commission (NMC) to withdraw permission for running MBBS courses at the Medical College of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra.

The medical college had commenced its first batch of 50 MBBS students in the current academic session. However, the institution soon became embroiled in controversy following protests by certain Hindu organisations over the admission of 43 non-Hindu students.  Amid protests especially by Sangarsh Samiti, a surprise inspection was conducted by NMC picking several loopholes in the institution and has now ordered to withdraw the permission granted to the medical college.

Reacting to the development in Rajouri, PDP senior leader and former MLA Chowdhary Qamar Hussain termed the decision as “highly unfortunate” and a serious blow to the healthcare and education sector of Jammu and Kashmir. “We have lost a new medical college, and nothing can be more unfortunate than this for J&K,” he said.

Qamar alleged that the BJP is indulging in divisive politics in Jammu and Kashmir and has now extended this approach to educational institutions as well.  He further accused the Government of India of pushing Jammu and Kashmir to a corner through such decisions. The PDP leader also criticised former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for maintaining silence on the issue, stating that no statement has come from him despite the gravity of the decision to disallow a medical college.  He said such silence raises serious questions at a time when the region is in dire need of advanced medical education and healthcare infrastructure.