Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: While describing “criminal silence’’ of BJP leadership from Jammu region over the shifting of proposed AIIMS to Kashmir valley as an indicative of their “secret deal’’ with the top PDP leader Mufti Mohd Sayeed, senior Congress leaders and former Ministers from Jammu, Sham Lal Sharma and Raman Bhalla today appealed to all the political, social, trade, transport and student/ youth organizations from Jammu to get united for a long and divisive struggle in coming days for this cause.
Addressing a joint press conference here today, Sham Lal Sharma (PCC senior vice president), Raman Bhalla (vice president) and PCC chief spokesman Ravinder Sharma strongly condemned the role of Jammu Ministers and MLAs from BJP and alleged that they have sold the interests of Jammu people to PDP. They have betrayed the people of Jammu who gave them massive mandate and meekly surrendered the interests of Jammu for the sake of power. They are answerable to the people how AIIMS which was actually announced by the Union Finance Minister for Jammu, among five others in the country, was shifted to Kashmir. They asked, “Why BJP Ministers remained mute spectators when Mufti Sayeed managed to induct few lines in Governor’s address cleverly that AIIMS has been sanctioned for Valley ?”
Sham Lal said, “ It is on record that Union Finance Minister during his budget speech in Parliament announced AIIMS for Jammu on March 28 and an MoS in the PMO from Jammu, on the same evening endorsed the Finance Minister’s statement and also extended his gratitude for this offer to Jammu people. The shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir is believed to be a conspiracy in which some Ministers from Jammu are also seem to be involved,” Mr Sharma maintained.
The PCC leader further pointed out that AIIMS with the cost of Rs 1500 crore will be established in the State. It is not Rs 16,000 crore as announced by a few people. He said Mufti Sayeed by giving justification that IIT and IIM have been sanctioned for Jammu, is again befooling the people of Jammu region. Mr Sharma said that IIT was sanctioned for Jammu during last financial by the previous regime and in many States the work has already been started. He said as per topography, area and population is concerned, AIIMS is most suited for Jammu region. Over one crore Vaishnodevi pilgrims visit here. Moreover, people from adjoining State of Himachal and Punjab will also be benefitted by this Institute.
“ We are not against people of Kashmir. If the AIIMS was first announced for Jammu, let it be established here in Jammu. Another AIIMS be sanctioned for Kashmir as done in case of Central University. The people of Jammu should know how Central University was sanctioned with the direct intervention of Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,” the PCC leader added.
Raman Bhalla alleged that BJP leaders from Jammu have betrayed the people of Jammu. They have surprisingly surrendered before the PDP leadership. Their silence over the issue has creating doubt in the minds of the people who voted them to power. Bhalla said they were the people (BJP) in the past who used to raise voice for any injustice against Jammu but we are surprised to note that neither BJP leaders nor those from organizations like RSS, ABVP, BD, VHP, Shiv Sena etc are speaking on the issue.
Mr Bhalla appealed the people of Jammu to rise above petty politics and get ready to launch a collective agitation for getting AIIMS. He said that the present Govt is duty bound to start work on five Medical Colleges and two Cancer Hospitals already sanctioned by former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for State. He alleged that this Govt thrown the projects in cold storage.
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