Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh Tuesday while holding Congress party responsible for ‘depriving’ people of Jammu from getting All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) said that in 2004, AIIMS was granted to Jammu but later during Congress rule it was converted into super-specialty hospital. He said that, "It (grant of AIIMS) is not to be declared by the state government but central government is the nodal agency to announce it.”His remarks came after the members of AIIMS coordination committee for setting up AIIMS in Jammu resumed their agitation on Tuesday."We appeal to the coordination committee to wait for some more days and suspend their programme of agitation for few days because AIIMS is a big issue and can take some more time to decide", he added.
He appealed to the committee members to defer their agitation in view of the Amarnath Yatra, Vaisho Devi cave shrine visit and the tourism season."I appeal to people and members of coordination committee, who are on path of agitation, should defer any type of agitation over the issue in view of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra", he said adding, "It is the season of pilgrimage to Amarnath and Vaisho Devi cave shrines besides the tourism season so they should reconsider their decision of going on agitation. However protest is a democratic right and we can go for it but with a caution that any type of agitation should not create problems in smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra", he added.I hope that everything will be put right soon and the AIIMS announcement would be made to keep in view the aspirations of the people of Jammu with it", he added.
Deputy Chief Minister said that both BJP and the Centre were "committed" on granting the institute to the region. "One of the main issues that we are confronted with is grant of AIIMS in Jammu region.BJP is committed to its promise of grant of AIIMS to Jammu. It has been decided at the highest level. We respect the mandate of the people of Jammu. It is because of them we are in the governance in Jammu and Kashmir. 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."BJP is committed to its promise of grant of AIIMS to Jammu. It has been decided at the highest level. We are not going back on the written assurance given to the coordination committee. We are committed and reiterate that AIIMS will be granted to Jammu but it is only a matter of time as it is a policy decision", Singh said.
He said that the people of Jammu may have fears that the AIIMS announced for Kashmir, may have taken off, but no such process has begun for setting up of AIIMS in the Valley as of now. Dr Nirmal Singh claimed that soon a financial package will be announced for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “This package would surpass all other packages announced by the previous governments for the state. 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 said adding that the package will be announced soon along with that of the AIIMS and the package amount has been decided.
Singh said that the the package will fully cover all the three regions of the state-Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu regions. “The BJP and the state government are committed to work for the national interests and development of the state,” he 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.
Responding to a question about the emerging communal tension in Rajouri district, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh ruled out arrest of VHP activists for burning ISIS flag bearing ‘Kalma Shahadat’.As far as the setting the IS flags on fire is concerned, it is a terrorist outfit symbol," he said. "Is it possible? Burning of the symbol of terrorists and anti-national elements is the work of nationalism."They (VHP activists) cannot be arrested. This is not possible, why should we arrest them? Why should they be arrested," he said.However, he appealed for calm from both the communities. "There should be no communal tension. We appeal to both the communities to observe calm," he said. (CNS)