Srinagar, June 6 (IANS). Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Ittu and sitting MLA Sajjad Lone have criticized former Chief Minister and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti. He had chaired a review meeting of the development works of AIIMS in Awantipora town of Anantnag district.
Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Ittu questioned Mufti’s decision to chair the review meeting of AIIMS Awantipora. Sakina Ittu said on
He said that today the elected government is being led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and asked in what capacity the former Chief Minister was reviewing the AIIMS Awantipora project?
He asked which power center in Delhi is giving instructions for such works?
Ittu said it was ironic that those who were responsible for the slow pace of the AIIMS project were now trying to take credit for its progress. Due to the concentrated efforts, monitoring and commitment of the present government led by Omar Abdullah, this project is moving towards completion.
Sajjad Lone also criticized Mehbooba Mufti on ex post and questioned her right to chair the review meeting of a central institution despite not being an MLA.
She argued that if she could do so, then non-MLA office-bearers of the Sangh or BJP could also claim similar rights because they had greater representation. He asked what stops leaders like Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad or Nirmal Singh from presiding over such meetings and does such a political right exist anywhere else in India?
Lone said Mehbooba Mufti may have opened the door for unelected and politically undesirable people to chair such meetings in Kashmir.
He urged the Chief Minister to clarify on these issues and said that this incident is constitutionally inappropriate.
Lone said that this step of Mehbooba Mufti is unconstitutional interference.
Let us tell you that PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had told on X post regarding AIIMS in Awantipora city that I spoke to Union Health Minister JP Nadda and requested him to expedite the ongoing work in AIIMS Awantipora so that there is no further delay in it. He assured me that the work would be completed on time.
–IANS
DKM/ABM
