SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday asserted that the internship demands of striking medicos are “genuine” and the process to address them was initiated long back, while hitting out at the opposition for “false sympathy” and politicising the issue.
Mnister Itoo said the file pertaining to the interns’ demands is with the finance department and the government is working on it.
“The children met me too. I told them that your demand is genuine. We are helping you in this. You don’t need to go on strike,” she said.
Taking a swipe at the opposition parties for holding candlelight vigils in support of the agitating doctors, she said, “They are showing false sympathy. When they were in power, they couldn’t increase their salary by 5 paise. Today they are making hollow claims.”
“When they had power, tell me what they have done for the interns. If they have done something, they should bring it forward,” the minister added.
“They have been a failure for 15 years. We have been in the government for 2 years. I want to ask them to give an answer for 15 years. Where did they get 2 crore accounts? Where did they get jobs? Where did they provide electricity? Where did they provide water?” she questioned.
Reiterating the National Conference’s commitment to the restoration of statehood, the minister said the party would continue peaceful protests for the rights “snatched” from Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will continue to fight for the rights which were snatched from us. This is the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, referring to the recent protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Earlier in the day, minister Itoo visited a facility run by noted social worker and Padma Shri awardee Javed Ahmad Tak and lauded his contribution towards specially-abled children.
“I was really happy to sit with these children. The team of Javed Tak is really commendable,” she said, recalling the foundation’s inception during the tenure of then Governor N N Vohra.
“I did not believe that this institution would ever be established. But today, when I see how much work he has done, how well he has built the building… he has set such good facilities for them. This is a very big contribution of his,” Itoo said.
She assured that the government would extend all possible support to the institution through the education and social welfare departments.
“We will definitely try to help you. Even if we talk about smart classes, we will definitely try to help you. Apart from that, if they identify children in nutrition, the social welfare department already helps in the ICDS sector,” she said.
The minister also advised the institution to apply for grant-in-aid from the social welfare department to facilitate better education for the children. (KNS)
