Cong stages protests over denial of AIIMS to Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 13:  Pradesh Congress today held dharnas and strong demonstrations in front of Raj Bhawan and at all the district headquarters  in  Jammu province,  to lodge its protest over denial of AIIMS Hospital to Jammu.
The main protest programme followed by day long dharna was held at Jammu in front of Raj Bhawan in which a large number of Congress leaders and workers participated. They later submitted a memorandum to the Governor, N N Vohra.
Similar protests were held at all district headquarters. The district units submitted memoranda through respective District Development Commissioners to the Governor over denial of premier health institution -AIIMS,  to Jammu region, which was already announced to be set up at Jammu, PCC chief spokesman Ravinder Sharma said.
He said the PMO through MoS in PMO, had expressed gratitude to the Modi Government and Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley over the decision of AIIMS to Jammu, in the Parliament after presentation of Central Budget on February 28 this year. It is unfortunate that now PDP leadership led by Mufti Sayeed wanted it to shift to Kashmir region by conspiracy. It is strange that BJP leadership from Jammu region has turned mute spectator.
The protest dharna staged in front of Raj Bhawan, was joined by senior leaders of the party, functionaries of PCC, DCC Jammu Urban and frontal organizations like Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, Seva Dal, INTUC and  NSUI.
Addressing the gathering, the senior Congress leaders lashed out at the Modi Government and BJP for compromising the interests of Jammu region for the sake of power. They said that the AIIMS is very much needed in Jammu region, keeping in view vast and scattered area of the region, lack of adequate health and medicare facilities of the desired levels. An ace Medical Institute- SKIMS is already established there in Srinagar.  The people of adjoining States of Punjab and Himachal and over one crore pilgrims/tourists of Katra Mata Vaishnodevi could also be able to avail the facility here.
The UPA Government had conceded the demand for two Central Universities keeping aside all norms on the subject, considering the peculiar circumstances of Jammu and Kashmir, but the BJP led NDA Government has ditched Jammu region.
The senior party leaders accused BJP leaders who secured a huge mandate on the promise of securing justice to Jammu region, have sold out the interests of the people for the sake of power.
Reminding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his poll promises to the people, the Congress leaders questioned its U-turn and policy of surrender by the BJP, which proves the opportunist face of BJP, which exploited the emotions of people especially of Jammu region to seek seats and share power.
Prominent among them sitting on dharna included  Sham Lal Sharma-senior vice president PCC;  Raman Bhalla,  Mula Ram (vice presidents), CLP leader Rigzin Jora, Kanta Bhan- vice president PCC; Yogesh Sawhney, Vikram Malhotra, Manmohan Singh, Choudhary Shahnawaz, Namrata Sharma (general secretaries PCC); Swarn Lata (Ex-MLA), Rani Baloria-MLC,  Shiv Dev Singh (Ex-MLA), Y B Sharma, Kuldeep Raj Verma, Ashok Sharma, Maheshwar Singh, Darshan Raina, DCC president Jammu (U) Anil Chopra, Indu Pawar-Mahila wing president, Shiv Kumar Sharma-INTUC chief, BS Sambyal-Seva Dal, Pranav Shagotra-PYC president.
At Kathua, the protest demonstration was led by former MoS, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, DCC president Subash Gupta and other senior leaders of the party and submitted memorandum to the DC.
At Samba, the protest demonstration was led by  Manjit Singh (Ex-Minister) general secretary PCC,  president DCC Prakash Sharma (Ex-MLA) and other senior leader of the  District and Block Congress Committees.
At Udhampur, the protest demonstration was led by general secretary PCC, Fakir Nath (Ex-MLA), president DCC Ashok Gupta and Pawan Raina and Vijay Manhas (organising secretaries PCC) and other senior leaders of the district unit.
At Rajouri, DCC president Ch Sain Rashid led the protest while at Poonch the DCC president  Rajinder Singh  led the protest and submitted the memorandum.
Similarly, protests were held and memorandum was submitted at other district headquarters by the DCC presidents and leaders of the district and block Congress Committees.

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