SRINAGAR, Dec 6 (Agencies): BJP’s General Secretary for Jammu and Kashmir, Ashok Koul criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for advocating autonomy for Sher-e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and the NC’s demand for reinstating the holiday on December 5.
Ashok Koul said, “Demands of the Chief Minister are a step towards reviving the political atmosphere of the 1990s when militancy was at its peak.”
Koul also dismissed the necessity of granting autonomy to SKIMS, suggesting that the institute is already functioning well under the current administrative structure. Reflecting on its condition up to 2000, he alleged that the institute had become a centre of militancy, with even some employees reportedly involved in such activities.
Koul said that SKIMS has been streamlined and transformed into a reputable healthcare institution serving people from every corner of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed concern over any move to restore the institute’s autonomy, suggesting that it could potentially revert SKIMS to its problematic past. He highlighted the critical role SKIMS now plays in providing treatment to thousands across the region and cautioned against decisions that might jeopardise this progress.
About another demand by the National Conference about reinstating a holiday on December 05, the anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Koul said, “There are enough holidays in the calendar, no need to add more.”