SKIMS controversy: Opposition corners Govt, stages walk out

Srinagar, Jan 11: The opposition members on Thursday staged walk out over the raging controversy over SKIMS Soura.
According to the KNS correspondent, the opposition leaders including NC MLA Mian Altaf, MLA Langate, Er Rasheed pressed on speaker Kavinder Gupta to direct government to debate over the issue of removal of Prof A G hanger as Director SKIMS a few days ago.
“SKIMS sub ki property hai, man maani nahi chalay gi,” MLA Kangan Mian Altaf told the house.
The government said that the Emergency department and the OPD sections of SKIMS were smoothly functioning. However, this didn’t satisfy the Opposition who continued to yell at the health minister.
“The doctors are on strike,” Altaf said, “patients coming from far-away places are not being admitted while as Surgery department is defunct.”
The opposition members walked in to well and later staged walk-out at around 10:52 am.
Later, the Deputy Speaker directed the government to look into the priority and resolve the standoff at the premier institute.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties also staged a walk out from the lower house to protest against defunct administrative units in the state.
As soon as the house resumed its business in the morning, the opposition members led by NC legislator Devender Singh Rana raised the issue of defunct administrative units. “Activate Jandrah tehsil and Nagrota sub-division; activate tehsil Bishnah, activate sub-division Qaimoh,” he said and was supported by the other NC and Congress members.
The members also displayed banners in the house demanding that the administrative units be made functional without any delay.
Rana had a verbal brawl with Speaker with he told him that he should enter the house after seeking permission from the government. “You should seek permission from Veeri sahab before coming to this house,” Rana told the speaker Kavinder Gupta.
Gupta, however, reacted with a smile.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Revenue, A R Veeri told the house that he will talk in detail talk about these issues when grants for revenue will be taken up in the house. Unsatisfied by the government response, the NC and Congress members walked out of the house at 10:08 am. However, the ministers are continued responding to the questions by.
Independent legislators, Er Rasheed, raised the issue of some officers in PHE department not joining the office. “You have become the laughing stock,” Rasheed told the PDP MLAs who were laughing at his demand. Rasheed’s demand was endorsed by PDP minister for Horticulture, Basharat Bukhari, who told the house that MLA Langate was right. “I too know this issue and necessary steps should be taken,” he told.