Harsimrat, Mohindra in war of words over Bathinda AIIMS

BATHINDA: Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asked the Congress government “not to play politics with the future of the youth by derailing the launch of AIIMS, Bathinda, by stalling initiation of classes” of its first batch of MBBS students at the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 22

Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asked the Congress government “not to play politics with the future of the youth by derailing the launch of AIIMS, Bathinda, by stalling initiation of classes” of its first batch of MBBS students at the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. However, Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra strongly denied her charge and instead accused her of politicising the issue.

Releasing a copy of the letter written by the Union Health Ministry to the PGI, Chandigarh, Harsimrat said, “Playing politics with the future of our youth simply to deny me credit for the start of this prestigious project is a sin. I strongly condemn it and ask the Congress government to put an end to its politics of lies and deceit and set up the transit campus of AIIMS, Bathinda, at Baba Farid University, Faridkot, as finalised by the PGI, Chandigarh, as well as the Union Health Ministry, immediately.”

She said the letter made it clear that it was the responsibility of the PGI, Chandigarh, as the mentor body of AIIMS, Bathinda, to finalise the location of its transit campus. She said the letter also asked the PGI, Chandigarh, to take necessary action on priority in consultation with the Punjab government to make the campus functional.

The minister said it was strange that despite this evidence on record, the Congress government and its Health Minister were denying these developments. She said such politicisation of a pious cause could endanger the very existence of the transit campus and could also result in cancellation of the seats, which had been approved and were to be filled this year. Asking the Congress government to announce establishment of the AIIMS transit campus at Faridkot immediately, Harsimrat said, “It is clear that you have been kept abreast of all details, including the fact that the Union Health Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the expert committee of the PGI, Chandigarh, to start the first batch of MBBS classes (2019-20) for AIIMS, Bathinda, from Baba Farid University, Faridkot. Feigning ignorance of the same as has been done by its Health Minister indicates that the government wants to delay the establishment of the transit campus. This does not behove an elected government. It should not discriminate against its youth by denying them the right to initiate their studies at AIIMS, Bathinda.”

On the other hand, Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said, “The proverb, ‘Little or half-baked knowledge is always dangerous’, goes well on Harsimrat Kaur Badal who has issued an irresponsible statement without checking the facts and figures.” Countering her statement, Mohindra said, “We have received no official communication either from the PGI or the Union Health Ministry regarding starting the transit campus of AIIMS, Bathinda, at Baba Farid University, Faridkot. The moment the state government gets a letter from the PGI, it will readily accept the Union government decision, which is in larger interest of students of Punjab.” He appealed to the Union minister to stop playing politics on such sensitive issues involving the future of Punjab’s youth.