SRINAGAR: Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed today accused the Centre of “ignoring” Kashmir and demanded an IIT and an IIM for the Valley along with Jammu to ensure regional balance.
“New Delhi has chosen the way of disgracing, ignoring and insulting Kashmiris.
I want to remind the Centre that it had made an announcement in the Parliament for establishing an AIIMS for Kashmir and IIT and IIM for Jammu province.
“But some senior ministers of central government including Jitender Singh provoked Jammuties as a part of their pre-planned agenda against granting AIIMS to Kashmir and ultimately it ended up with announcing AIIMS for Jammu,” Rashid said.
The MLA from Langate constituency from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district led a protest near Civil Secretariat here in support of his demand.
He said Kashmiris were not against providing these institutions to Jammu region but had every right to seek IIT and IIM for themselves.
“If Union Government can agree to the demand of a handful of people of Jammu district who don’t represent Chenab Valley and Pirpanchal region, why should it not establish IIM and IIT in Kashmir? People of Jammu have always got benefits from sufferings of Kashmiri people.
The Prime Ministers Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) which was meant for militancy hit areas of the state was badly misused and Ladakh and Jammu regions got the major shares from it,” Rasheed said.
He alleged that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was unable to fulfil his promises to the people of the state.
“Why he should not apologise to Kashmiris for not being able to fulfil his promises which he has made with people and had argued that BJP being in power at the Centre can accommodate grievances of Kashmiris’ at developmental front much better,” he said.
“PDP leaders were praising day and night to Narender Modi and promising stars and moons from the sky for Kashmiris, but now BJP is not only letting Sayeed down but by making Kashmiris to beg for everything, the union government stands exposed,” he said.
Rasheed demanded the Centre to announce IIT and IIM for Kashmir at an earliest, saying it should not “under estimate the people’s might as people of Kashmir will have no option but to take to streets”.
He called upon all political parties and trade organisations to stand up against “discrimination” and force the Union Government to establish IIM and IIT in Kashmir as well.
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