Sir,
It is really amusing to read the statement of Ch Lal Singh Health Minister of J&K who has asserted that AIIMS institution was sanctioned in 2004 by the then Union Minister Sushma Swaraj. For the information of the Minister no AIIMS was sanctioned by BJP but however the then Finance Minister Jaswant Singh in his budget speech of 2004 had said that one of the medical college in six states will be upgraded to the level of AIIMS. One of the six states was J&K. The result was setting up of a Super speciality hospital. After a long gap with change of three CMs ultimately super speciality hospital came up in Jammu which is very much a part of GMC under the same Principal. It was just transfering six super specialties from GMC to a new set up
Now see the results. Every now and then we read in media about one or the other sad state of affairs of this super speciality hospital like breakdowns in infrastructure and very recently breaking of fire in battery bank rendering very costly equipment redundant.
Even if we agree to what Chowdhry Lal Singh has said that his successors converted AIIMS in 2007 to Superspecialty hospital. May we ask him where was he then and what steps did he take to over turn the wrong doing. Can he clarify?
Ch Lal Singh was part and parcel of the ruling dispensation at center as well as in the state. He was a Congress MP in Lok Sabha.
Ironically he has shifted his loyalty to BJP when he knew Congress ship was sinking.
Jammu people gave an over whelming mandate in Jammu to BJP but for lust of power joined hands with PDP in formation of Govt in the state thus ruining their own future as well of PDP also.
Their stubborn attitude in not announcing AIIMS in Jammu is like digging their grave and not sensing the upbeat mood of Jammu people.
On the other hand BJP has given a ready made issue of AIIMS to Congress and NC to come out of grave to exploit the issue to the hilt.
It is high time our CM who is experienced and mature leader intervenes in the matter and assuage the feelings of Jammuites and not to allow novice ministers of BJP to administer Jammu themselves.
Yours etc…
I C Jandial
Chairman All Jandial Sabha