‘Govt more concerned about who visits AIIMS than why it’s still not functional’
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, on Friday accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of summoning AIIMS Awantipora officials to the Chief Minister’s private office over former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s visit to the site, instead of addressing systemic shortcomings in the healthcare sector.
In a series of posts on X, Para said governance failure is absolute on the ground, yet the CM’s private office chose to summon AIIMS staff over opposition intervention and Mehbooba Mufti’s visit to the site.
“J&K is in the midst of a health emergency. Cancer is taking lives every single day, yet those in power seem more concerned about who visits AIIMS than why it is still not fully functional,” Para said.
He alleged that CM Omar Abdullah personally questioned the location of AIIMS Awantipora, never made it a priority to regularly review its progress, and spent more time outside the state or managing party affairs than ensuring the institution becomes operational.
“What is even more shocking is that instead of demanding accountability for delays, AIIMS officials are being summoned to the CM’s private office tomorrow at 8 am and allegedly questioned about why a former Chief Minister visited a project that was conceived and initiated during Mehbooba Mufti’s tenure,” Para added.
He said a government backed by 50 MLAs should not be intimidated by a site visit and should be ashamed that patients are still waiting for world-class healthcare while politics continues to take precedence over people’s lives.
The attack came after Mehbooba Mufti visited the AIIMS site in Awantipora on Friday, terming the project the fulfilment of her father and party founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s long-cherished dream. She expressed satisfaction that work on the AIIMS was progressing well and assured authorities of her support in expediting the project.
PDP MLAs Waheed Para and Mohammad Rafi Naik accompanied Mehbooba to the site.
However, ruling National Conference leader Ifra Jan questioned Mehbooba’s visit, saying on X: “In what capacity? Unless the BJP organised this briefing for its ally, since AIIMS is a Central government project and it would not have been possible without the Centre’s approval.”