Tensions are escalating in Jammu over recent protests regarding admissions to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, a medical college near the Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti (SMVSS), a coalition of right-wing organizations, has been leading demonstrations against the current admission policies.

The heart of the controversy lies in the composition of the inaugural MBBS batch of 50 students, admitted based on the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) merit list. Of these, 42 are Muslim candidates, primarily from Kashmir, while seven are Hindu and one is Sikh. This outcome has fueled protests by groups demanding reservations for Hindu students, arguing that the institution was built on land owned by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and funded by donations from Hindu devotees.

Recent demonstrations have grown more intense. In Katra, SMVSS members burned an effigy of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to protest the admissions. Protesters, carrying Vaishno Devi flags, chanted slogans demanding the cancellation of the current admissions. Some protesters stated that the medical college was not acceptable in the shrine of India's Sanatan Dharma.

The SMVSS and other organizations have held protests in various locations, including Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Rajouri and others. These demonstrations have called for a probe into what they allege is a conspiracy against the institution. Colonel Sukhvir Singh Mankotia, convener of the SMVSS, stated that protests would intensify into a complete shutdown of Jammu if their demands were not met. He added that the government was pushing them towards a massive agitation.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected a proposal from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) to allocate 100% of its MBBS seats under the All India Quota (AIQ). According to an NMC official, the proposal violated existing policy, which stipulates a certain percentage of seats for the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and a percentage for state counseling.

Despite the ongoing protests, classes at the medical institute have continued for the past month and a half. The departments include Anatomy, Physiology, Bio-Chemistry, Pharmacology, Community Medicine, Forensics, Pathology and Microbiology. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Super Specialty Hospital is attached to the medical institute. Students have stated that the protests have not affected them.

The situation remains tense, with protesters demanding the revocation of the admission list and reservation of seats for Hindu students. The SMVSS has stated they will continue to protest until their demands are met.