Synopsis
Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference confronted National Conference MLAs in the J&K Assembly over the medical college in Handwara. The discussion became heated as both sides exchanged accusations regarding funding and the location of the project.Key Takeaways
- Sajad Lone opposes relocating the medical college.
- NC MLAs raised concerns about funding and location.
- Minister Sakina Itoo seeks extension for fund utilization.
- Opposition demands permanent jobs for daily wage workers.
- Wild animals are threatening farmers' crops in J&K.
Jammu, March 11 (NationPress) Sajad Gani Lone of the Peoples Conference (PC) faced off against ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs in the J&K Assembly concerning the creation of a medical college in Handwara town. During the Question Hour, Lone reacted after NC MLAs Mir Saifullah, Javed Mirchal, and Qaiser Jamshed Lone suggested relocating the medical college between Handwara and Kupwara towns.
Sajad rejected this proposal, emphasizing that his primary concern was to ensure that the allocated funds did not lapse, which led to a heated exchange between him and the NC MLAs.
Sakina Itoo, the Minister for Health and Medical Education, intervened, stating that she had approached the central government for an extension on the fund utilization period in this matter.
Sajad inquired whether the J&K Government had received any feedback from the Centre regarding their request.
While Sajad expressed that he had faced criticism from political opponents for facilitating the medical college's approval, NC MLAs accused him of taking the medical college away from Kupwara.
Lone retaliated by accusing the NC of robbing Kupwara of the proposed engineering college, which was moved to Safapora in the Sonawari constituency of Bandipora district.
As tensions escalated, Minister Sakina Itoo remarked that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had established “thousands of such medical colleges.”
She also announced her decision to investigate how the medical college in Handwara was constructed in a flood-prone region.
In a separate matter, all Opposition members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for the permanent employment of thousands of daily wage workers across J&K, many of whom are now beyond the age for any new recruitment initiatives.
The NC members attempted to counter the BJP's demand by rising to quiet the Opposition MLAs.
In response to a question, Javed Ahmad Dar, the agriculture minister, stated that the wildlife protection department and the agriculture department were collaborating closely to ensure that farmers' crops were safeguarded from wild animals.
It is important to note that wild animals such as porcupines, bears, wild boars, and Nilgai have been causing significant damage to crops in the mountainous and forested regions of J&K.
