Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 21: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said today that he was never away from the party organisation (the Congress) for which the Congress high command was in the process of drafting some Ministers ahead of Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April-May 2014.
“When I was out of the `sangthan’ (the party organisation)”? he asked in response to a question here as to whether he would now set right the `health’ of the party after improving health of his Ministry (Health and Family Welfare).
“They can call me anytime,” Mr Azad said.
He was here along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for ‘Arogya Mela’ organised by Department of AYUSH, Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare at Parade Ground, which would continue till December 24. The fair was inaugurated today.
Mr Azad had served as AICC (I) general secretary, Incharge of several States for many years. Union Minister for Environment and Ecology Jayanthi Natrajan resigned today and there were reports that some Ministers could follow her to gear up the Congress, which had faired very badly in Assembly elections in four States recently. The Congress wanted to gear up the organisation ahead of 2014 general elections.
Addressing the function organised in connection with inauguration of the fair, Mr Azad voiced concern over what he called `late latifi’ (dilly dallying tactics) in implementation of some projects in the State.
“Some projects are not being completed in time. In some cases, the Government has not submitted Utilisation Certificates (UCs), leading to delay and virtual lapse of funds, thus, delaying the projects.
“The ‘late latifi’ is a major hurdle in implementation of projects. The Government should gear up to complete the projects in time,” Mr Azad said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was also present at `Arogya Mela’ expressed hope that the UPA would come back to power at the Centre for third consecutive time after next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing the function, Omar said it would be UPA-III at the power after the 2014 elections and added that the Congress-led alliance after forming Government should introduce legislation to ensure access to free medical treatment for all.
“The time of UPA-II has gone. We are toiling hard towards formation of UPA-III. Inshallah, I want to say with confidence that there will be UPA-III Government after (2014 Lok Sabha) elections,” Omar said.
“UPA-II has given a lot to the people of the country, which nobody had thought of in the past. It was right to Free and Compulsory Education and Right to Food,” he said.
“But, the truth is that if we do not have health, these all are meaningless. If I do not have health, nothing is good for me,” he said.
Omar said after the Lok Sabha elections when UPA-III will be formed, “we should give a gift to the people of this country from UPA-III in the shape of ‘Right to Health”.
Stressing that health was a basic requirement, Omar said the right to medical care should be recognised as a fundamental right so that people are legally empowered to seek the best available medical treatment free of cost in Government health centres and hospitals across the country.
“The UPA-II Government has enacted path-breaking and historic laws for declaring Right to Food and Right to Education as basic rights for every citizen of the country,” Omar said.
“I hope the UPA-III will enact the necessary legislation in Parliament for making free medical treatment available to all the citizens of the country as a fundamental right,” he added.
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