Cong cornered over AIIMS-like institute

Congress was cornered in the UP Assembly on Friday over the issue of the UPA government according priority to establishing AIIMS-like institute in Rae Bareli.

During a debate on the issue,which continued for about two hours,political parties,including the ruling SP,BJP as well as the BSP,demanded explanation from Congress leaders about Rae Bareli being the first choice for an AIIMS- like institute.

The question in this regard was first raised by BJP MLA Satya Prakash Agarwal,who asked the chief minister if the state government would be sending a proposal to the Centre to develop AIIMS-like institute in eastern UP as well. Replying on behalf of the CM,Waqar Ahmad Shah said the UP government that on May 17 sent a proposal to the Centre for establishing AIIMS-like institute in Eastern UP,Bundelkhand and Rohilkhand apart from Rae Bareli. The Government of Indias response is awaited,Shah added.

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Later,BJP leader Radhamohan Das Agarwal placed a resolution before the House that AIIMS-like institute should be first established in Gorakhpur on a priority basis.

SP MLA from Bacharawan in Rae Bareli Ram Lal Akela requested Congress leaders to inform that when the Centre would start work on AIIMS in Rae Bareli as UP CM has already provided land for the same. To this,SP MLA Yogesh Pratap Singh requested Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi,who was sitting at the back bench as she was late,to first come to the front row and reply to the question in the presence of the CM.

Joshi,who was obviously not ready for debate,told the House that the Congress was willing to give AIIMS-like institutes to the state but they can be first established in eastern UP if the state government wanted so.

Joshis statement prompted the SP MLA to know if she was going against her party high-commands wishes. However,when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said Joshis statement before the House be conveyed to the Prime Minister,Joshi immediately retracted and said it was the ability of the present government to as many AIIMS as they wanted.

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This was followed by Congress MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singhs claiming that the state can have as many AIIMS it wanted.

Soon,MLAs from various parties started suggesting alternative places for establishing AIIMS. In a lighter mood,SP leader Raguraj Pratap Singh offered land in his constituency,Pratapgarh,whereas Azam Khan said Rampur,which begins with Ram,should also be considered.

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