Centre should concede AIIMS for Jammu also : Rana

Excelsior Correspondent

National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana addressing party functionaries on Friday.
National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana addressing party functionaries on Friday.

JAMMU July 24: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today hit out at PDP-BJP alliance for its indifference towards mass aspirations, saying diversionary and delaying tactics over another All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the State to be established in Jammu has forced the people of Jammu to take to streets.
“Our stand is clear, we hail AIIMS for Kashmir and want another one for Jammu”, Mr Rana said while addressing newly nominated functionaries of the reconstituted Provincial, and District Units of National Conference besides its Youth, Women and SC/OBC Wings at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, here.
He particularly objurgated BJP for betraying the trust of the Jammu people, saying its clandestine moves to break resolve of those spearheading AIIMS movement by gaining time has rebounded and boomeranged.
“Deputy Chief Minister had given a written commitment to the Coordination Committee that the second AIIMS will be sanctioned for Jammu by July 20, but their undertaking did not carry weight; they have lost their credibility”, Mr Rana said while observing that the mounting public pressure has left no option for the PDP-BJP government in the State and the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre but to concede their legitimate demand.
Expressing concern over unfortunate incidents in Rajouri, he referred to undemocratic move of the Government in preventing NC Sadhbavna Yatra to Rajouri yesterday and said the action was prompted by the fear of PDP-BJP alliance getting exposed for inciting passions to create wedge between various segments of society.
He cautioned against divisive politics by the coalition in bid to divert the attention of the people from its failures on all fronts.
Senior National Conference leaders including State Vice Presidents Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Rattan Lal Gupta, Th Kasahmira Singh, State Secretary Th Rachhpal Singh and former minister Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo attended the joint meeting as special invitees.
Apart from organizational matters, the high level meeting deliberated in detail on the overall political situation prevailing in the State.
In their addresses, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Sajjad Kichloo, Rattan Lal Gupta, Th Kashmira Singh, Th Rachpal Singh, Babu Rampal, Ajaz Jan, Satwant Dogra and Dr Kamal Arora, MLA highlighted the crucial role of National Conference in steering out the State from the mess created by PDP, BJP duo They also made a fervent appeal to cadre to further strengthen the party at grass roots level and reach out to people.