Amidst a brewing controversy surrounding admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asserted that merit, not religion, is the sole basis for admissions. His statement comes as a response to objections raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the recent SMVDIME admissions, where a majority of the selected candidates belong to the Muslim community.

Abdullah strongly criticized the BJP's stance, emphasizing that any deviation from merit-based admissions would require the Supreme Court's approval. He highlighted the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution, stating that if the BJP wishes to disregard secular principles, they should first remove the word "secular" from the Constitution.

The controversy arose after the first admission list for SMVDIME revealed that 42 Muslim students were admitted, compared to seven Hindus and one Sikh. This has led to demands from the BJP and various Hindu organizations for reservations to be implemented for Hindu students, arguing that the institution is funded by Hindu donations and should prioritize Hindu students, similar to minority institutions. Some have called for the admission list to be cancelled and for amendments to ensure more Hindu students are admitted in the future, and for the institution to be granted official minority status to enable such reservations.

However, officials have clarified that the admissions were conducted strictly in accordance with the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules. These rules mandate that all government and affiliated private college seats, excluding management or NRI quotas, must be allocated based on NEET merit and Jammu and Kashmir domicile criteria. They reiterated that religion plays no role in the centralized NEET counseling process, and the college cannot legally introduce a religious quota without official minority status. The Shrine Board has also made it clear that the admission process is based on merit-based parameters, ensuring transparency and fairness in the selection process.

Abdullah questioned the logic of applying religious criteria to admissions, asking if social welfare schemes and rations should also be distributed based on religion. He suggested that instead of fueling the controversy, BJP leader Sunil Sharma should review the Act pertaining to admissions at the medical college. He further added, "If you want Muslims out of the SMVDIME, then you should also stop providing treatment to Muslim patients in the Vaishnodevi hospital".

Other political figures have also weighed in on the controversy. Sajad Lone and Iltija Mufti have condemned the BJP's stance, while officials have reiterated that admissions followed NEET merit and national regulations, not religion.