The BJP which is the part of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday slammed the ongoing agitation for AIIMS in Jammu and said those spearheading the stir were playing in the hands of Opposition parties, in spite of Centre’s announcement to give “AIIMS-like” institution in the city.
The BJP said that the foundation stone of AIIMS in Jammu would be laid before that of Kashmir’s and some constituents of the AIIMS coordination committee were playing politics on it.
“Now that the Union government has agreed to provide similar AIIMS-like facilities for Kashmir and Jammu, there is no justification to continue with the strike.
“The National Conference and the Congress are using the coordination committee for their political interest,” president of the State unit of BJP, Jugal Kishore Sharma, told reporters.
Mr. Sharma asked BJP workers to counter the ACC strike.
Mr. Sharma said that the Union health ministry has decided to provide similar AIIMS-like facilities in both the regions of the State with separate directors at the helm of affairs.
“The AIIMS in Jammu and the AIIMS in Kashmir will have similar facilities, they will have separate directors and same number of departments and same seats for the students,” Mr. Sharma said.
“The BJP understands the aspirations of the people of Jammu and we stand to resolve their problem, we assure the people of Jammu that the foundation of AIIMS would be first laid in Jammu and after that in Kashmir,” he said.
Mr. Sharma said that now that the main demand of the AIIMS coordination committee has been accepted they must call of their strike and let the routine work continue in the region.
“If the budget of AIIMS in Kashmir would be Rs 1,500 crore the similar amount would be spent on AIIMS in Jammu,” he said.
The BJP leader said that the nomenclature of the AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir too has been decided, “The name for AIIMS in Jammu would be All India Institute for Medical Science Jammu and for Kashmir it would be All India Institute for Medical Science Srinagar,” he said.
When asked whether it should be construed that two separate AIIMS have been sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Sharma said: “What is the difference, it would be similar facilities, if Kashmir gets 50 doctors Jammu too would get 50 doctors in Kashmir.”
Earlier, while speaking at a party function, Mr. Sharma asked the party workers to counter the ACC strike by asking shopkeepers to open their shops and the transporters to resume the traffic on the highway. - PTI
