Srinagar, Jan 8: Peoples Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti on Thursday strongly criticized the celebrations reported in parts of Jammu following the closure of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Reasi, describing them as the “height of bigotry.”
In a post on social media platform X, Iltija Mufti said it was deeply disturbing that the shutdown of a medical institution was being celebrated merely because it had opened opportunities for Muslim students. She termed such reactions as regressive and harmful to the collective interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
Her remarks came in response to celebrations held in the Jammu region after the Medical Assessment and Rating Board of the National Medical Commission withdrew the letter of recognition granted to the medical college. The regulatory body cited non-compliance with minimum prescribed standards as the reason for its decision.
Drawing a parallel with past political developments, Iltija Mufti compared the celebrations in Jammu to those witnessed in Ladakh following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. She said that, much like Ladakh at the time, Jammu too appeared to be “cutting its nose to spite its face”, warning that such actions ultimately harm the shared future of all communities. Using sharp words, she remarked that logic, development and progress seemed to have been abandoned in favour of narrow thinking.
The PDP leader, who is the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, expressed concern that shutting down a medical college and celebrating it undermines the region’s educational growth and healthcare capacity. She implied that such developments reflect increasing intolerance and politicisation of education.
Meanwhile, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board has clarified that students admitted to the institute during the counselling process for the 2025–26 academic year will be accommodated in other medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir as supernumerary seats by the competent authority of the Union Territory administration, in order to safeguard their academic future.
The withdrawal of recognition followed sustained agitation by the Sangharsh Samiti, a recently formed group of right-wing organisations backed by the BJP, which had been demanding cancellation of admissions to the college. The group had also sought reservation of seats exclusively for students professing faith in Mata Vaishno Devi, a demand that triggered widespread debate and political reactions across the Union Territory.