Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on Trikuta hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. He reached Katra, which serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi temple, where he was received by J&Kâs Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Vice President is on a dayâs visit to Jammu & Kashmir where he will preside as the Chief Guest at the 10th convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. He attended the convocation in the morning and then flew to the cave shrine in the afternoon to offer his prayers. Dhankar was accompanied to the shrine by Manoj Sinha.
The Vice President was received by Anshul Garg, the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board, who briefed Dhankar about the various developmental projects carried on to facilitate the devotees visiting Vaishno Devi. After the shrine, Dhankar also visited the Bhairon temple nearby.
Jagdeep Dhankar was originally scheduled to visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) campus for the convocation on 27th December 2024. It was cancelled due to the state mourning announced by Union Government upon the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The 10th convocation of SMVDU was held at Matrika Auditorium of the campus. The event was also attended by LG Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah and Education minister Sakina Firdous. Addressing the convocation, the Vice President said, âWe are Indians and being Indian is our identity. Nationalism is our religion, and it is our duty to keep nationalism at the highest level whatever the situation. No political or individual interest can be bigger than national interest.â He also called the abrogation of Article 370 as âhistoricâ, even saying that constitutional provision is temporary.
In the session 2023-24, 684 students of SMVDU qualified for bachelorâs degree, 147 for masters, 34 for integrated masters and 44 for PHD degree. A total of 26 medals, nine certificates of distinction and 10 Infosys foundation prize for excellence were presented by the dignitaries at the convocation.
