Omar Abdullah (File photo)
SRINAGAR: J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah slammed Tuesday BJP’s objections to admission of Muslims in Katra’s Vaishno Devi Medical College, saying the party should then have it declared as a minority institution.Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary joined Omar in denouncing BJP’s stance, with the two heavyweights of the governing National Conference (NC) framing its objections as a direct challenge to India’s secular principles and constitutional values.“If you don’t want Muslim students to study in the medical college, then declare it a minority institution. There is one Sikh candidate and several Muslim candidates, let them know it so they can withdraw and seek admission elsewhere. If this continues, our children will go elsewhere. They will go to Bangladesh or Turkey to study,” Omar said.The row erupted after the new college filled seats strictly on NEET’s merit list and reserved 85% of its seats for J&K domiciles, with only eight Hindu students from Jammu making it to the first MBBS batch of 50.After the admissions were completed, VHP and Bajrang Dal were the first to protest, arguing that an institution funded by Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should give preference to Hindus only. BJP joined them later. On Saturday, BJP’s leader of opposition Sunil Sharma formally lodged a protest with J&K lieutenant-governor (LG) Manoj Sinha, who is ex-officio chairman of the shrine board, submitting a memorandum seeking a review of admission norms.On Tuesday, J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Sat Sharma reiterated the position, saying only those who have faith in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi should get admission in the medical college, which comes under Mata Vaishno Devi University.Omar questioned the stance. “When the J&K assembly passed the bill (for the university)…it was clearly stated that admissions will be based on merit. If you want admissions without merit, then seek permission from Supreme Court. As far as I know, our Constitution does not allow religion-based admissions,” the CM said.Omar urged BJP to read the bill under which Mata Vaishno Devi University was established, insisting nowhere does it mention “religion-based admissions”.The CM drew a parallel with Vaishno Devi Hospital, which has been functioning in Katra for several years. “If that logic is applied, then Muslims or non-Hindus should be denied treatment at the hospital? Where will it end? Should we ask people their faith before giving them ration? Should the police decide their duty based on religion?” Omar said.The word “secularism” is still in the Constitution, Omar pointed out. “If you don’t want secularism in this country, remove it from the Constitution. Then you can do what you want, and we will do what we must.”Deputy CM Choudhary asserted that admissions cannot be tied to faith. “These (medical college) students have qualified NEET. We must maintain brotherhood and it shouldn’t be made an issue,” Choudhary said.