AIIMS OPD starts 3 months after PM’s inauguration: Cong

JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla during a press confrence on Thursday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla during a press confrence on Thursday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

‘OBC Commission without OBC member surprising’
* Withdraw anti-pensioners order
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1:  Congress today said that Prime Minister inaugurated incomplete AIIMS project in February this year with an eye on elections whereas even the OPD started today.
Addressing a press conference here today JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla and senior vice president and chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma along with other members of the Manifesto sub-committee said that the Government fooled the people in the run up to the elections when the AIIMS Jammu started its OPD today more than three months after the inauguration. They sought answers from the Govt and the BJP over the issue, however, appreciated the efforts of the management for tirelessly working for the completion of the project.
Several deputations from cross-section of society today met the Manifesto Committee including refugees, OBC community, Old Wine Traders Association, Christian community, SCs, Railway Passengers Welfare Association and farming community and put forth their issues.
Bhalla and Sharma while expressing gratitude to the OBC and other sections  for their whole hearted support and welcome to the Congress party and its stand led by Rahul Gandhi in  demanding castes census  said that entire party is behind the stand of the leader included in the manifesto of the party and assured that Congress  shall do justice with all sections of the society.
Referring to the grant of ownership rights to West Pakistan Refugees over the land in their occupation, they said that they should also be provided adequate land as per a scale who are in  deficiency but said that other genuine occupants on state land especially landless and small and marginal farmers should also be given due rights over the lands in their possession besides full rights to the PoJK refugees of 1947, 65 and 1971.
They said that the present Govt. has deprived the genuine allottees  of refugees who have acquired ownership rights from selling their lands illegally besides extinguishing their rights of possession from decades over the  lands from record, arbitrarily instead of regularizing their possessions as per a  fair and transparent policy, assuring that Congress Govt will do justice with all deserving people.
Members of the manifesto committee namely- Indu Pawar, Yash Paul Kundal, Shashi Sharma, Suresh Dogra, Prof HR Sharma, Iqbal Dar were also present on the occasion.
Railway Passengers Welfare Association president Vijay Sharma put forth various suggestions regarding Railway project ignored by the BJP Govt and formally declared to actively work for the Congress party.
Sharma said that the Govt should further strengthen the security and village defence mechanism to counter terrorism and clear conducive atmosphere for holding Assembly elections without delay. He said  during  his tour of  sensitive villages of Kalakote area he noticed fear amongst the people who demanded more  weapons especially modern type for fighting militancy.
Bhalla strongly criticized the recent orders of the Government directing the old and aged pensioners for physical verification  and demanded immediate withdrawal of the order. He also expressed grave concern over the incident of burning of the houses of Kashmiri Pandits and demanded in depth investigation and stern action against culprits.