Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 25: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP for meekly surrendering the interests of Jammu Pradesh before the PDP for the lust of power, NPP sternly demanded AIIMS for Jammu on the analogy of establishing Central Universities in the State.
Balwant Singh Mankotia State president NPP and ex-MLA while addressing the media revealed that a day before the BJP-PDP Government formation in J&K, Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley had announced two Institutions in the form of AIIMS for Kashmir and IIM (Indian Institute of Management) for Jammu respectively. He exhorted the State and the Central Governments to reconsider the sanction of AIIMS for Jammu and IIM for Kashmir in view of the dire need and lack of medical infrastructure which often force the people of Jammu Pradesh to be referred to Chandigarh or New Delhi for the treatment.
Mankotia maintained that Kashmir has been blessed with SKIMS which is a premier research institute equivalent to AIIMS. He demanded AIIMS to be returned to Jammu in consonance to the coveted demand of the people.
Balwant castigated the BJP for resorting to politics of betrayal for the outlandish ambition for power at the cost of the aspirations of the people of Jammu Pradesh.
He appealed to all like-minded political parties, youth and students associations, intellectual forums to support NPP to a launch a mammoth agitation in case the Government fails to concede the demand of establishing AIIMS at Jammu.
NPP is also fighting against the levying of Toll Tax on the National Highways by the NHAI. Mankotia vowed that the struggle shall carry on until the toll tax is waived off in the interests of tourists, pilgrims, transporters and general public at large.
Others present in the press conference included Gagan Pratap Singh Spokesman Young Panthers, Ranjit Singh Katoch and Lakhvinder Singh.
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