Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 21: Even though AIIMS Coordination Committee (AIIMS CC) has resumed its agitation for setting up of separate AIIMS for Jammu region, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today reiterated that both BJP and Union Government are committed to establishment of the Institute in this region.
Talking to reporters here, today along with Party MLA from Jammu West Sat Sharma (CA), Dr Nirmal Singh made it clear that the BJP and the Union Government have not backtracked from their promise and they are committed to establish a separate AIIMS for Jammu.
He appealed to the Coordination Committee to wait for some more days and suspend the agitation because AIIMS is a big issue and can take some more time to decide.
Dr Singh also appealed to the AIIMS CC to defer their agitation in view of the Swami Amarnath Yatra, Vaisho Devi yatra and the tourism season.
Ruling out any credibility crisis for the Government in the wake of its “failure” to meet deadline over the AIIMS issue, Singh said that credibility crisis could have hit BJP had the party refused to grant AIIMS to Jammu.
“We have said that we will come out with a clear cut answer over the demand of AIIMS by July 20, but it is taking more time but there is no other motive”, he said while explaining the reason for the delay in announcement.
“Whether it will be announced during Parliament session or after that, the decision is to be taken by the Central leadership. The status of this matter will become clear in some time”, he said.
“We tried to contact Coordination Committee to hold talks with them over the issue so that we can motivate them to suspend their agitation for some more time, as Prime Minister was out of the country and now the Parliament session has begun, that is the reason for delaying the decision.
“I had given assurances to the Coordination Committee only after Central leadership gave a nod to it. We gave a time bound assurance in view of the situation arising at that point of time”, he added.
“A (financial) package will be announced for the State of Jammu and Kashmir soon. This package would surpass all other packages announced by the previous Governments for the State,” Singh added.
“This package has been formulated after removing all errors. A Central team had come here in this regard some time back. We also met the Central leadership in this regard,” he added.
“The package will be announced soon along with that of the AIIMS and the package amount has been decided,” he said.
The package will fully cover all the three regions of the State – Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu, he added.
The BJP and the State Government are committed to work for the national interests and development of the State, the Deputy CM said.
“The alliance, which we have formulated is aimed to end the regional discrimination, stamp out terrorism and bring Jammu and Kashmir into national mainstream like other States,” he said.
“We are in the Government for the past four and a half months and there are high expectations of the people. We are working hard to fulfill the aspirations of the people and ensure development of all the three regions,” he said.
“One of the main issues that we are confronted with is grant of AIIMS in Jammu region. In 2004, AIIMS was granted to Jammu by then NDA Government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee but later during Congress rule it was converted into super-specialty hospital. BJP is committed to its promise of grant of AIIMS to Jammu. It has been decided at the highest level,” he added.
“We respect the mandate of the people of Jammu. It is because of them we are in the governance in the State. From the top leadership starting from Prime Minister to Amit Shah, BJP has strong feelings towards Jammu and Ladakh regions and for its development,” he said.
Nirmal Singh said that revelation of foreign fundings to the separatists has left them “exposed” and stern action will be taken against those found involved in such activities.
“The revelation of foreign funding to the separatists has exposed them,” Singh added.
“These people are engaged in such activities. There is a law for it and law will take its own course. Those involved would be dealt with strongly and action will be taken against them,” he said.
“Those people (Separatists), who are claiming that they are fighting for a cause, have been bitterly exposed by the recent Hawala funding revelations. The foreign support to the separatists has been exposed,” he added.
He said that any issue of separatism, we will deal it with stern hands and we will continue to take strong action against those involved in separatism and militancy.
On the issue of threats of ISIS , he said that security forces are alert and active to foil any such design. “It is the responsibility of security forces to deal with them and they are on the job,” he added.
He also ruled out any action against the youth for torching ISIS flags in the State saying that they are nationalist people and they are working for national cause.
He said some misguided youth in Kashmir at local level are waving ISIS flags to get media hype while there is no proof of ISIS activities in the Valley.
The waving of the flags is the reason that militancy with the support of Pakistan is active in Valley for over 25 years now and the Government will not allow them to succeed in their designs.
He said such increasing activities of separatism in the Valley can be because some forces are totally surprised over joining of hands by PDP-BJP- the North Pole and South Pole and such forces are trying to create disturbances. But administration will deal against them with full might and crush them, he added.
He said whatever steps are needed the Government will not allow communalizing the situation on ISIS flag issue and he made an appeal to both the communities to maintain peace otherwise the separatists will get encouraged.
He said since the coalition came to power in J&K Pakistan tried to destabilize it through its agents but it will be defeated as in the past.
Even Pak through its agents tried to sabotage the holy Amarnath yatra but with the Government’s firm commitment yatra is proceeding smoothly and they will not succeed in disturbing it.
He said the yatra has crossed 2.50 lakh in last 20 days and record number of pilgrims will visit holy cave this time. Dr Singh said that arrangements are complete for pilgrims as he as well as CM visited Baltal and Pahalgam to see the arrangements.
On unprovoked border firing he said Indian forces are alert and they have given a befitting reply to Pakistan.
He said the terrorists crossing the border are being killed as there is also local resentment against the terrorists. He , however , maintained that terrorism is a long issue and in Ireland it is continuing for hundred years. However, India is more powerful and more capable to take on the cross border terrorism and it has been doing it successfully, he added.
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