| Two medical universities in J&K, one each in Jammu province, Valley | | Bali's approach rational, holistic | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 9: The BJP has been at the receiving end in Jammu and Ladakh because of its alleged Valley-centric approach and unstinted support to its coalition partner, the PDP. However, in such a grim scenario as far as the BJP is concerned, its Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat has adopted a rational and holistic approach to avoid inter-regional conflict over the proposal on medical university in Jammu & Kashmir.
On December 18, 2017, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced setting up of first medical university in Jammu and Kashmir, which would cover 16 professional Medical Colleges and 113 para-medical institutes in the State. She had said the establishment of medical university in Jammu & Kashmir would reduce burden of Jammu University and Kashmir University to a large extent.
"In an effort to realize my father's vision, we will start the process to set up the first Medical University in Jammu & Kashmir during the upcoming Assembly session. The healthcare and education sectors are vital to our State," she had said.
Her declaration had created a sort of furore in Jammu with many expressing the view that the move of the Chief Minister to set up medical university in the state was calculated to establish the Valley control over the medical institutions located in Jammu and weaken Jammu University, the premier educational institution of Jammu province.
Bali Bhagat took a different stand. The idea of establishing just one medical university in the state didn't go well with him. He, according to sources, "took the view that to set up a single medical university in Jammu & Kashmir would create inter-regional tensions" and "the government must come up with a different plan in order to stave off accusation of bias". He pitched for two medical universities, one each in Jammu province and Kashmir Valley. His proposal has finally clicked. Bali Bhagat Saturday said: "To avoid any controversy between the people of Kashmir and Jammu, the state government has decided to have two universities. Initially, only one medical university was proposed to be set up in the state, but later, we decided to establish two campuses because we don't want any confrontation between people of Jammu and Valley".
It was in January this year that the Health and Medical Education Department sent a draft bill to the Law and Justice Ministry for the establishment of university. It was prepared by a four-member-committee. Bali Bhagat constituted the committee on November 29, 2018. It was headed by the Additional Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department. Other members included representatives from Jammu University, Government Medical College, Jammu, and Government Dental College, Jammu.
In the meantime, Special Secretary, Law and Justice Department, Acchal Sethi, has said: "We have vetted the bill and sent it back to the Health and Medical Education Department".
The successful intervention of Bali Bhagat has undoubtedly saved the under-attack BJP from yet another attack from the people of Jammu. |
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