Jammu, Dec 01: The Yuva Rajput Sabha on Monday staged a forceful demonstration at the Maharaja Hari Singh statue near Tawi Bridge, denouncing the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board over what it alleged to be discriminatory admissions in the Medical College run by the Board. The protesters claimed that of 50 seats, 42 were allotted to non-Hindu candidates, calling it an affront to the aspirations of Hindu youth and to the religious sentiments of millions of devotees.
Led by YRS President Mandeep Singh Rimpy, the protestors shouted slogans demanding the immediate review of the admission list and the introduction of community-centric provisions in all institutions operating under the Shrine Board. Rimpy said the Board exists because of the faith and offerings of the Hindu community and must therefore uphold their educational rights. He warned that the agitation would spread across the Union Territory if authorities failed to respond.
Addressing the gathering, YRS leader Rajan Singh Happy said the issue concerns representation and fairness in an institution financed through a Hindu shrine. He criticised the admission pattern as a distortion of the fundamental purpose behind the establishment of the Shrine Board and urged administrative intervention to ensure transparency.
Senior leader Vikram Singh Vicky alleged that the Board’s decision undermines public trust, arguing that Hindu students deserve rightful preference in institutions built on their community’s devotion. He demanded an explanation for what he called an imbalanced selection process and urged the Board to adopt guidelines sensitive to the institution’s religious context.
Former presidents and founder members of the Sabha, along with hundreds of volunteers, joined the protest and pledged to continue their campaign until the admission policy is amended. The Sabha announced that if the Shrine Board does not revise the list and enforce priority for Hindu students in future intakes, a stronger statewide agitation will follow.
