Mehbooba Mufti's AIIMS review in Kashmir sparks row

Srinagar: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti holding a review meeting at AIIMS has angered the ruling National Conference and other political parties, who are questioning the capacity in which she conducted the meeting.

Mufti along with the legislator from her party, discussed the way forward for the AIIMS Awantipora project with officials and executing agencies. She conveyed her commitment to helping address concerns and encouraging greater coordination among all stakeholders.

She also spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda and requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn’t get delayed any further. Mufti said Nadda was kind enough to assure her about its completion well on time. “Undoubtedly the team assigned here is toiling day and night but given how healthcare is crumbling across J&K, it’s imperative AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon. It will provide much needed relief and quality medical services,” said Mufti.


Reacting to this the J&K Health and Medical Education Minister from the ruling National Conference Sakina Itoo, said in an oblique reference to Mufti that some people seem to be suffering from political amnesia and they still behave as if they are in power, even though they lost office in 2018 and have since been repeatedly rejected by the people.

“The elected government today is led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are holding reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project. More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions?” Itoo asked. She said that it was ironic that those because of whom the AIIMS project moved at a painfully slow pace are now trying to claim ownership of its progress.

The J&K People’s Conference chief and legislator from Handwara Sajad Lone said that Mufti chairing a review meeting at AIIMS is nothing short of a constitutional crisis. He added that it was unbelievable why the CM has not reacted to an event which erodes even further an already eroded power structure in J&K.

"Mark my words. This is not a just review meeting. This is yet another round of disempowerment in the offing. There is much more than meets the eye. Be prepared for a lot of theatre. Are we shifting from a dual power centre to a Troika.
Is she the new shadow Chief Minster," said Lone.

He further asked, "Can Mamta Banerjee or Mr Stalin both ex chief ministers, chair review meetings. What is the special arrangement in J&K. Under what law did she chair a meeting of AIIMS," Lone asked.