Hyderabad: Telangana Government Adviser Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Tuesday strongly criticised the BJP-led central government for the derecognition of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), calling it an act of “institutional bias” against Muslim students.
Speaking at the Khatm-e-Nabuwwath Conference in Kamareddy, Shabbir Ali alleged that the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to revoke SMVDIME’s MBBS recognition had nothing to do with infrastructure, and everything to do with the religious identity of the majority of its students.
He referred to the January 7 order by the NMC and stated, “This is not about standards. This is because 42 out of 50 students were Muslim. When merit went against their narrative, they used technicalities to shut the door.”
Protest-driven action undermines merit, says Shabbir
The SMVDIME, affiliated with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and funded by the Shrine Board, admitted students for its MBBS programme through NEET-based counselling by JKBOPEE. Of the 50 selected, 42 were Muslims, seven Hindus, and one Sikh. Authorities confirmed the process followed all merit-based norms.
However, the admissions drew protests from right-wing groups such as the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. They objected to the use of Hindu shrine donations for an institution where the majority of students were non-Hindus. Shabbir Ali condemned these objections and said, “You can’t demand religious reservation in a government-recognised college. That violates the Constitution and insults equality.”
He further accused the NMC of acting under political pressure. “They could not legally cancel the merit list, so they claimed infrastructure lapses. The inspection came just after the protests. Is that coincidence?” he asked.
Derecognition part of systemic exclusion, warns adviser
Shabbir Ali linked the incident to what he described as a growing pattern of institutional exclusion targeting Muslims. He cited the NRC, the CAA, and the Umeed Portal as part of a “chain of tools to trap or monitor minorities.”
He warned that the Umeed Portal, aimed at registering minority properties, could soon be used to restrict the use of Waqf lands and religious spaces. “They are collecting data today to control us tomorrow,” he told the audience.
Calling for unity and awareness, he urged the Muslim community to increase investments in faith and education, especially in rural Telangana. He praised the grassroots work of the Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwath Trust in employing imams and building religious schools. “This is not just charity—it is our defence,” he said.
Call for structured community planning
Shabbir Ali proposed building funeral facilities near mosques in urban areas. He cited logistical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted successful models in Banjara Hills. He said trained professionals should manage religious and community functions: “Doctors should treat, teachers should teach, and ʿulamāʾ should lead.”
On political distractions ahead of elections, he criticised campaigns to rename cities like Nizamabad. “Will a name change reduce unemployment or improve schools? This is just to provoke,” he said.
He praised the Congress governments in Telangana and Karnataka for protecting minority rights. “We can still build mosques and register Waqf lands because some governments respect the Constitution. That’s not a favour—it’s a right,” he asserted.
The conference concluded with religious leaders reaffirming their commitment to faith and service. Earlier, Shabbir Ali and Maulana Shah Jamal-ur-Rahman inaugurated the new Masjid-e-Abbas, built next to a community graveyard. The occasion marked the 26th annual celebration of the Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwath Educational & Charitable Trust.