Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 26: As a damage control exercise against the reported move of the State Government regarding shifting of proposed AIIMS to Kashmir Valley from Jammu, BJP today said that the medical institute be set up at a Centrally located place accessible to all the three regions of the State.
The Medical Institute should be set up at a Centrally located place accessible to people of all three regions of the State, BJP National spokesperson and MP Meenakshi Lekhi told reporters here today.
Maintaining that BJP has not opposed establishing of AIIMS at Jammu she said “when Finance Minister sanctions something for a State during his budget speech, the sanction is made for the entire State and not for one particular place,”.
“Now what I personally suggest is that AIIMS should come somewhere at the centre of Jammu and Kashmir, the place which is accessible and acceptable to all the three regions of the State (including Ladakh),” she said.
Maintaining that she understands the sentiments of the people of Jammu region over the issue, Lekhi said that she would convey the same to the Central leadership of the Party on her return to New Delhi.
However she cautioned over dividing the people of the State on the name of Jammu region and Kashmir region as it is one State and the AIIMS will come up in this State.
Lekhi said if this suggestion is not acceptable then the other way would be to upgrade the existing Jammu Medical College to the level of the Medical Institute.
On the BJP’s stand over the issue of abrogation of Article 370, Lekhi favored a debate over the issue. She said that there has been no change in the ideology of her Party as far as the removal of the Article from the Constitution was concerned but same is the question of number game.
“BJP has not weakened its stand on the issue, but it is not something that can be done overnight, the debate has to start from the Legislative Assembly. People need to debate and find out the pros and cons of the Article,” she said.
She said that the debate on Article 370 has already started and people in the country were free to discuss about pros and cons of its continuation.
“The issue of Article 370 was the issue of survival and existence of the party,” Lekhi said.
The BJP leader also highlighted the achievements of the Party during first one year of Narendra Modi Government. She said many pro people decisions were taken during the last 12 months of this Government.
Lekhi was flanked by BJP president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, State spokespersons , Balbir Ram Rattan and Arun Kuamr Gupta and State secretary Dr Drakshan Andrabi.
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