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| Fulfill promise on AIIMS—BJP’s litmus test | |
By K B Jandial
In democracies the real sovereigns are the people, howsoever politically immature and uneducated they may be, but they get an opportunity to issue their “decree” only after five years, six years in case of J&K which the last vestige of emergency. The rulers (ruling parties) who descend on the throne in the name of “service” of the people start showing signs of amnesia after elections. The politics of amnesia is as old as is our democracy because the people who make to the temples of democracy after lot of struggle at all levels and incurring huge money want quick return, but on personal account. So, they keep the promises on backburner.
This happened without exception in J&K also where the elected representatives remain elusive to promises and people’s problems which they in the past as had been raising as aggressive opposition leaders. These promises sometime become impracticable as the single party does not come to power and its agenda is no longer enforceable unless there is political convergence on certain issues. Here come Kashmir centric politics in J&K for which BJP is no different.
Ending discrimination to Jammu and integrating J&K with rest of the country had always remained the two major concerns of the region which remained as pronounced today as in the past ultra-nationalist BJP sharing power in the state notwithstanding. Why Jammu harbouring the same feeling today despite the fact that the “party with difference” is in power? Has amnesia struck them too?
More than amnesia it appears to be the case of complacency as there is no immediate threat to the Govt. given full backing of the central BJP leadership. As is seen at national level BJP is a different party in at least on one count,- it doesn’t act under the pressure of criticism, even it be all round. So, the local leadership need not worry on public criticism.
Leave aside election-time promises and its basic ideology, that it uses for purposes of rhetoric, the litmus test is the fulfillment of at least written commitment of June 18, 2015 made of no less than the Dy. Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh and his colleague Bali Bhagat to the AIIMS Coordination Committee that they would get the notification on Jammu AIIMS issued from the Central Govt. by July 20, 2015. Can they now go for amnesia on it?
Good thing on it is that AIIMS Coordination Committee (ACC) has not allowed BJP to forget this commitment with threat of indefinite shut down in Jammu looming large on this emotive issue. Instead of relaxing ACC is continuing with its efforts of large scale mobilization in entire Jammu region. The response of people of all over the region to ACC is encouraging. AIIMS may not be as sensitive an issue as of the religious issue of Amarnath land row of 2008 but it is nonetheless an issue that has hurt the Jammu psyche and honour. Thanks to the mass contact programme of ACC, AIIMS has become an issue of medical necessity not only for the suffering people of Jammu but also those living in adjoining belt of the neighboring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The basic objective of opening more AIIMS is to ensure dispersal of apex medical institution in Govt. sector in different regions and states with a view to provide super specialty healthcare facilities within the reach of poor and middle class segments across India as the affluent people normally get this facility in private sector institutions at a cost which they can easily afford. Vajpayee’s vision has been rightly carried forward first by UPA Govt. and now by NDA.
By no yardstick Jammu can be ignored from this facility even when the BJP high command in its political wisdom has already given AIIMS to Kashmir in “Agenda of Alliance” unmindful of the fact that Kashmir already had one such medical Institute of almost of same level in the shape of SKIMS for more than three decades. J&K is more sensitive and important from national interest than Bihar where the Centre has granted the second AIIMS this year, may be with an eye on forth coming assembly elections.
Jammu is a hub of secular & nationalistic fervor and should not be taken for granted while pleasing Kashmir. It would have dangerous portents. Jammu has never been against Kashmir but it has a right to assert and fight for its own honour and interest. Kashmir always gets institutions first starting from Govt. Medical College, Regional Engineering College, now NIT and Jammu had to struggle for these. GMC Srinagar started in 1959 and REC Srinagar in 1960 while Jammu got GMC in 1979 after agitation and Govt. College of Engineering and Technology in 1994 during Governor rule. This policy must end.
Political parties too are craving for space left open by BJP by distancing from AIIMS issue and other local problems. Their indifference is being capitalized by Panther party with Congress too waiting in the wings. Panthers’ impressive procession in Jammu on Friday after dharna on AIIMS issue at jantar mantar at national capital should be taken as wake –up call by BJP if it wants to avoid embarrassment in the impending civic polls.
With hardly less than 15 days left for the deadline ( July 20) there appears to be no discernible moment forward on the issue even though it is frequently claimed that the issue has been clinched and only announcement is awaited which would be made at appropriate time. It is claimed that Dy. CM had already discussed the issue but there has been no word in the media on it.
There is a talk of Centre agreeing to set AIIMS campus for Jammu with AIIMS at the valley. This is like university campuses at Kathua, Bhaderwah, Poonch etc. This was not the agreement with the ACC delegation on June 18. Will this half baked cake break the ice?
There are two more occasions for local BJP leadership to air and convince their central leadership about AIIMS before the deadline. First occasion is the meeting of BJP ministers, legislators and office bearers convened at Delhi by party President on July 12. This an occasion for BJP to redeem its position among the people of Jammu by raising forcibly in one voice this issue of discrimination with the region which is its “karambhoomi” and get the directions issued to the Govt. of India for second AIIMS for Jammu to make good their political blunder.
The second occasion is the visit of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to the winter capital on July 17 to participate in the function of death anniversary of his father-in-law and veteran congress leader Shri Girdhari Lal Dogra. Jaitley has an important role in granting AIIMS.
If nothing of the sort happens then the ACC would be left with no choice but to restart its agitation after July 20. Other issues of discrimination including different duration of B.Ed courses in one state- one year course in Kashmir and two year- course in Jammu, delimitation of assembly constituencies, less representation of Jammu in Govt. service, settlement of long pending issue of refugees etc would also be clubbed for broad based agitation. Political parties would also grind its axe in this scenario. BJP leaders have to take a call now.
(The writer is former Secretary information, health, transport, CAPD departments and a member of Public Service Commission, feedback: [email protected])
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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