5 months ago
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah connected Tuesday (December 2, 2025) defended merit-based admissions to the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), saying seats cannot beryllium distributed connected the ground of religion nether the Constitution.
"When the determination was taken to acceptable up a aesculapian assemblage astatine the university, it was already known that seats could not beryllium distributed connected the ground of religion. Approval was granted connected the ground of NEET. The lone criterion of NEET is merit," Mr. Abdullah told reporters here.
The National Conference leader, who was connected his mode to Jammu via Poonch and Rajouri from Srinagar, said those who secured admittance done NEET are present being punished due to the fact that of their religion. "Neither the instrumentality nor the Constitution permits this, nor does the argumentation of the assemblage let denial of admittance connected this basis." Mr. Abdullah criticised attempts to question spiritual segregation successful admissions astatine the college, asserting that merit unsocial determines selection.
"If you privation the organisation of seats connected the ground of religion, past you indispensable halt taking grant-in-aid and the onshore fixed escaped of outgo — you indispensable wage for both. Only past tin you alteration the assemblage rules to reserve seats for 1 religion. We volition person nary objection to that," the Chief Minister said.
On the demolition of a journalist's location successful Jammu, Mr. Abdullah said the substance was beyond his purview. "I said it successful Srinagar that it is not successful our hands. Those who person appointed the serviceman and those who person taken specified a measurement should beryllium asked."
