Jammu, December 17, 2025 – The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti intensified its agitation today with coordinated protests across multiple districts in the Jammu region, including Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, and Jammu city. Demonstrators blocked roads and highways, raising slogans against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), the Jammu and Kashmir Government, and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration over the controversial MBBS admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra.
In Samba, protesters blocked the National Highway in Samba & Vijaypur alleging bias in seat allocation and demanding preferential quotas for Hindu devotees whose donations fund the institution. In Vijapur tyres burnt on the road leading to blocade. In Samba protesters blocked the road for 15 minutes. Convenor Samba Distt Adv Rahul Sambyal in a statement to media said, ” Govt should not test the nerves of the people”.
In Rajouri, the Samiti organized a major highway blockade, with participants accusing the Shrine Board of mismanagement and faulty rules that disadvantage the Hindu minority in J&K. One protester stated, “This is against the Shrine Board for wrong decisions and incorrect laws. Hindus associated with Mata Vaishno Devi should get their rightful share.” 1 “LARGE” 8 “LARGE”
Poonch saw a one-hour road blockade at the bus stand, with demonstrators echoing demands for cancellation of the current admission list, where a majority of seats went to students from the Kashmir Valley on merit basis.
In Jammu city, protests erupted at Satwari Chowk, alongside reports of heated arguments between police and demonstrators in some areas.
The ongoing row stems from the 2025-26 MBBS batch, where merit-based NEET selections resulted in most seats going to Muslim students. The Samiti, a coalition of Hindu organizations, insists the college—built with pilgrim donations—should prioritize devotee rights or be declared a Hindu minority institution.
Police maintained order, with no major incidents reported. The agitation continues, with warnings of further escalation if demands are unmet. Classes at SMVDIME proceed normally amid the controversy.
