Mehbooba Mufti’s AIIMS Awantipora review triggers political row, NC, PC question authority

A major political controversy erupted in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reviewed the progress of the under-construction AIIMS at Awantipora in south Kashmir.

Health Minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government, Sakina Itoo, and Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone questioned Mehbooba Mufti’s authority to chair a meeting assessing the pace of work on the AIIMS project.

“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,” Sakina Itoo posted on her social media handle while reacting to Mehbooba Mufti’s visit to the AIIMS site.

“The elected government today is led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are conducting reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project. More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions?” she asked while taking a swipe at the PDP chief.

Blaming Mehbooba Mufti for delays in the completion of the project, Itoo said, “It is ironic that those responsible for slowing down the AIIMS project are now trying to claim ownership of its progress.”

“The fact is that the project is moving towards completion because of the focused efforts, monitoring and commitment of the present government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” she added.

The Health Minister further said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were wise enough to distinguish between those who delayed development and those who were ensuring its delivery.

Sajad Lone Takes a Dig at Mehbooba

Strongly criticising Mehbooba Mufti for chairing a review meeting on the AIIMS project, Peoples Conference chief and MLA Sajad Gani Lone termed it a direct assault on the constitutional authority of the elected government.

“And these constitutional competencies are the constitutional assets of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Lone said.

“They are vested in the Chief Minister for a period of five years. He has no right to allow them to be trampled upon or set a precedent for unconstitutional trespass,” he added.

Lone questioned the capacity in which Mehbooba Mufti chaired a review meeting of an institution that falls under the jurisdiction of the BJP-led Central Government.

“Did the authorisation come from Delhi? Constitutionally, she cannot head a review meeting of local departments functioning under the elected government. Chairing review meetings of Central Government institutions is a constitutional impossibility,” the Peoples Conference chairman said.

“Was there a fresh notification? A government order? A special authorisation from the BJP? Or are we now operating under a new constitutional arrangement where a select few can bypass constitutional protocol? Are we shifting from a dual power centre to a troika? Is she the new shadow Chief Minister?” Lone asked.

“Can Mamata Banerjee or M.K. Stalin, both former chief ministers, chair review meetings? What is the special arrangement in Jammu and Kashmir? Under what law did she chair a meeting on AIIMS?” he further questioned.

Iltija Comes Out in Support of Her Mother

Iltija Mufti defended her mother, Mehbooba Mufti, and accused the National Conference government of deliberately delaying the completion of the ambitious project.

She argued that the NC government had publicly criticised the location of AIIMS Awantipora and had deliberately avoided reviewing the project since 2024, resulting in delays in its inauguration.

“Yet, after Mehbooba Mufti visited the site along with PDP MLAs to oversee its progress, AIIMS officials have been summoned to the Chief Minister’s office tomorrow for an expected dressing down,” she posted on social media.

“This government is responsible for criminal delays and governance paralysis across Jammu and Kashmir because its focus lies elsewhere—on media conclaves, marathons, cyclothons and foreign sojourns. But why should people suffer because of your gross ineptitude and complacency?” she asked.

“Public projects are not your fiefdom, and government employees, including these AIIMS officials, are not your indentured labourers. AIIMS Awantipora falls in Pulwama, where people elected a PDP MLA,” she added.

Mehbooba Reviews Progress of AIIMS

On Friday, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, accompanied by Tral MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, visited AIIMS Awantipora to review the progress of the project and interact with the concerned agencies on the ground. She reiterated her commitment to supporting every effort aimed at ensuring the early completion of the institution.

“Mufti Sahab envisioned and laid the foundation of AIIMS Awantipora in 2015, and today I am delighted to see his dream taking shape. Significant progress has been made on this crucial institution—a project initiated by the PDP more than a decade ago,” Mehbooba posted on social media after the visit.

“AIIMS Awantipora has the potential to emerge as one of the leading centres of healthcare, medical education and research in Jammu and Kashmir. I request Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to expedite the completion of this vital institution so that quality healthcare services can reach the people of Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest,” she said.

Mehbooba further stated that she had spoken to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and requested him to speed up the ongoing work.

“He was kind enough to assure me that the project would be completed on time,” she said.

“Undoubtedly, the team assigned here is toiling day and night, but given the deteriorating healthcare situation across Jammu and Kashmir, it is imperative that AIIMS Awantipora becomes operational soon. It will provide much-needed relief and quality medical services to the people,” she added.