KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Dec 5: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a firm stand against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent statements advocating autonomy for the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and the National Conference’s demand for reinstating December 5 as a public holiday.
Ashok Koul, BJP’s General Secretary (Organization) for Jammu and Kashmir, sharply criticized the proposals, accusing Omar Abdullah of attempting to revive the political climate of the turbulent 1990s. “The Chief Minister’s demands appear to be steps towards rekindling the political atmosphere of the 1990s when militancy was at its peak,” Koul told Kashmir Despatch.
Referring specifically to the autonomy proposal for SKIMS, Koul dismissed it as unnecessary, stating that the institution has been functioning effectively under its current administrative framework. He also recalled SKIMS’s troubled history, alleging that until the year 2000, the institute had become a hub of militancy, with some of its employees reportedly involved in unlawful activities.
“SKIMS has been streamlined over the years and transformed into a prestigious healthcare institution that caters to patients from all corners of Jammu and Kashmir. Granting autonomy to the institute might undo this progress and potentially bring back its problematic past,” Koul remarked.
Highlighting the vital role SKIMS plays in healthcare across the region, Koul cautioned against any decision that could jeopardize its current reputation and services. “The focus should remain on strengthening the institution, not on unnecessary administrative changes,” he said.
On the National Conference’s demand to reinstate December 5 as a public holiday to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, Koul expressed his opposition, saying, “There are already enough holidays in the calendar. There is no need to add more.”
Earlier in the day, Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister, had confirmed that a proposal to restore the December 5 holiday had been sent to the Lieutenant Governor’s office for approval. However, Koul dismissed the move, asserting that it was unwarranted.
The BJP leader’s statements reflect the party’s ongoing critique of what it perceives as regressive and politically motivated decisions by the ruling National Conference government in Jammu and Kashmir. Both issues—SKIMS autonomy and the holiday reinstatement—are likely to remain contentious as political discourse in the region intensifies.
