Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rigzin Jora Sunday said the assertion of Dr Jitender Singh, Minister of State, PMO during his interaction in Kathua that the AIIMS was sanctioned for Jammu, has nailed the lie of the BJP ministers in the Mufti Sayeed government“It is amply clear that the trade-off has happened at the level of the state government. Dr Jitender also denied that there was any linkage between the AIIMS and the IIT and IIM, thereby nailing another lie that the ministers from the coalition partners have been peddling to befool the public of Jammu. Fact remains the BJP ministers do not have the pluck and the gumption to face up to Mufti Sayeed. They are a bunch of push-overs and weaklings, who cannot assert themselves,” Jora alleged in a statement to KNS. “In the process they are deceiving the very same public of Jammu who gave them the mandate. The BJP today stands thoroughly exposed.”
“Having accused Congress all along for its failure to get Jammu its due, today BJP finds its accused of the same thing. To cover up its failure to get Jammu AIIMS, BJP today seems to be swearing in the name of secularism and accusing Congress of playing divisive politics for demanding AIIMS for Jammu. The Congress party has very clear policy - equitable development and equitable share for all the three regions, without any prejudice or bias for, or against any region. That is why Congress has managed to get seats in all the three regions. The demand for AIIMS for Jammu is guided by logic, rationale and sound reason of pragmatism and practicality and not by parochial sentiments and emotions,” he said.
The CLP leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who as incharge general secretary of BJP, travelled the length and breadth of the state “is not unaware of the peculiarities of the state. “During his campaign in the Assembly election he had assured the public of Jammu of their empowerment and due share in development. Therefore, he does not need reminding of his promise. This is the time for Prime Minister and his colleague Arun Jaitely to redeem his promises and pledges to the people of Jammu,” he said.
“Despite our electoral disappointment in Jammu, Congress party will continue its fight for the just causes of Jammu, including AIIMS. Unlike the BJP, who has always projected itself as guardian and champion of the rights of Jammu, only to surrender themselves to PDP, Congress will fight for the rights and just cause of all the three regions. People in the valley must not construe this as an attempt to deprive them of AIIMS - this certainly isn't our aim. All that we are demanding is additional one, if possible two: one for Jammu and one for Ladakh. Surely, this should not be, too, difficult for Modi government who doesn't forget to remind everybody that India is a three trillion dollar economy,” he added.