J&K Health Minister takes exception to Mehbooba touring AIIMS, says ‘suffering from political amnesia’

Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakeena Itoo on Friday (June 5, 2026) took exception to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti touring the under-construction site of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kashmir, in south Kashmir’s Awantipora area.  

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“Some people seem to be suffering from political amnesia. They still behave as if they are in power, even though they lost office in 2018 and have since been repeatedly rejected by the people. The elected government today is led by Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are conducting reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project,” said Ms. Itoo, in a statement.

In an oblique reference to the BJP, Ms. Itoo said, “More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions? It is ironic that those because of whom the AIIMS project moved at a painfully slow pace are now trying to claim ownership of its progress.”

She said the fact was that the project is moving towards completion because of the focused efforts, monitoring, and commitment of the present government under the leadership of CM Omar Abdullah. “The people of J&K are wise enough to distinguish between those who delayed development and those who are ensuring its delivery,” she said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister’s statement came hours after Ms. Mufti, along with Tral legislator Rafiq Ahmad Naik and Pulwama legislator Waheed -ur Rehman Parra, visited the AIIMS, Awantipora, “to understand the progress being made on the project and engage with the concerned agencies on the ground”. 

“It was a dream project of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. It’s good to see the work has gained pace. The project is bound to prove beneficial for the local area. I am hopeful locals will be preferred for most of the non-professional and non-technical posts,” said Ms. Mufti.

Ms. Mufti was seen being briefed by the AIIMS officials about the project. “Mufti sahab envisioned and laid the foundation for AIIMS Awantipora in 2015. Much progress has been made on this crucial institution, a project initiated by the PDP over a decade ago. AIIMS Awantipora has the potential to emerge as one of the leading centres of healthcare, medical education, and research in J&K,” said Ms. Mufti.

She also requested Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda “to kindly expedite completion of this vital institution so that quality healthcare services can reach the people of J&K at the earliest”.