Sangharsh Samiti celebrates NMC withdrawal of permission to SMVDIME, political divide sharpens in J&K
NMC’s SMVDIME decision hailed by Sangharsh Samiti, opposed by NC, Congress and Apni Party
Jammu, Jan 7: The withdrawal of the Letter of Permission by the National Medical Commission for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence has triggered sharply divided reactions across Jammu and Kashmir, with the Sangharsh Samiti and several Jammu-based organisations welcoming the decision, while major political parties including the National Conference and Congress have expressed deep concern over its implications.
Marking what they described as a victory for justice, members of the SMVD Sangharsh Samiti, along with a large number of supporters, took out a grand Vijay Yatra in Jammu. The celebratory procession, accompanied by traditional drums and slogans, began at Parade Ground, passed through key areas of the city and culminated at the historic Shri Raghunath Temple. At the temple complex, participants offered prayers and expressed gratitude for the success of their agitation.
Earlier, addressing the media after a core group meeting, Sangharsh Samiti convener Colonel Sukhvir Singh Mankotia thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, describing the NMC’s decision as a victory for justice. He also appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to issue clear directions to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to ensure respect for Sanatan Dharma traditions within the institution. He said the movement was aimed not merely at protest but at protecting religion and dignity.
Parshotam Dadhichi of the Samiti said any sharp remarks made against the Lieutenant Governor during the agitation should be viewed as expressions of public anguish and not otherwise. The celebrations were echoed by the Yuva Rajput Sabha, whose president, Mandeep Singh, along with members, held celebrations near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh, distributing sweets and beating drums. He said the Sabha remained committed to fighting for the rights of Jammu and called upon the Dogra community to stand united.
Former minister and senior BJP leader Ajatshatru Singh termed the NMC’s action timely and in the larger interest of students and public health. He lauded the sustained and peaceful efforts of the Sangharsh Samiti and thanked the Union Health Minister for his role. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, which termed the decision a significant victory of nationalist forces and thanked the Prime Minister, Union Health Minister and the Lieutenant Governor.
Other organisations and leaders also weighed in. Nanak Chand Sharma and Advocate Chander Mohan Sharma demanded that a Sanskrit College be opened in place of the cancelled medical college, while Pt Jeeva Nand Sharma of the Rashtriya Parshuram Parishad said donations made by devotees to Mata Bhagwati must be used only for the preservation of Sanatan Sanskriti. Jai Ghosh Foundation president Deepak Handoo described the decision as the outcome of sustained public pressure and accountability efforts.
In contrast, opposition parties strongly criticised the withdrawal of permission. Congress leaders termed it a cover-up for failures of the BJP-led Health Ministry and the Shrine Board, questioning how shutting down a medical institution would benefit the youth of Jammu. JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra called the closure unfortunate, alleging political reasons behind the move and saying it had come at the cost of students’ futures.
National Conference provincial president Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta termed the decision a case of administrative failure and political apathy, demanding urgent corrective measures and restoration of permission. Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir also raised questions over the NMC’s decision-making process and sought accountability for the uncertainty faced by students.
Senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony described the withdrawal as a black day in the educational history of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that communal politics had overridden the broader interests of the region. As celebrations and criticism continue side by side, the SMVDIME issue has emerged as a major flashpoint, reflecting deep political and social divisions over education, governance and the future of medical aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir.
