JAMMU : National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today proposed that an all party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir be formed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demand of setting up of an AIIMS in Jammu.
Abdullah made and impromptu appearance at the AIIMS Coordination Committee’s protest site here and addressed its supporters.
“I propose an all party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for breaking the impasse over the establishment of an additional and full- fledged AIIMS for Jammu,” he said.
“Both the divisions need AIIMS and there should be no hitch for the Centre to take an immediate decision with regard to providing the facility for Jammu, after having announced it for Kashmir,” Abdullah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu Province, said.
The initiative of the all party delegation will be taken by the people as the government has “failed” in projecting the issue in a right perspective, he said amid huge applause from the ACC supporters.
ACC, an amalgamation of over 70 organisations, has been leading an agitation for setting up of AIIMS in Jammu region.
He said that AIIMS for both the divisions is not a favour but a requirement in view of inadequate health infrastructure.
“We will meet the Prime Minister and make a strong case for the consideration of parliamentarians so that issue is delayed no further,” the National Conference president said.
The former Chief Minister expressed concern over “inept” handling of the issue by the coalition government, saying that the “finer sensitivities involved in the matter have not been taken into consideration”.
He said the state has peculiar problems and needed a special dispensation.
Abdullah hoped that the commitment made to the people of Jammu will be kept and an additional AIIMS announced without further delay.
“National Conference has a very clear stand on the issue,” he said, adding “while we welcome the announcement of AIIMS for Kashmir, we strongly plead for similar facility in Jammu.”
Later, in an informal interaction with the party functionaries at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here, Abdullah said “NC has a track-record of standing for just cause of the people of the state and would knock every door to ensure that the urges and aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are satiated.”
He urged the party cadre to further intensify the mass contact programme so that the problems of the people are highlighted at appropriate quarters for seeking redressal. (agencies)
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