M A Shah condemns Sakeena’s remarks on protesting NHM employees

Srinagar, Sep 12: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State Executive Member Jammu and Kashmir UT and District Ganderbal Panchayati Raj Election Incharge, Mohammad Amin Shah Saturday criticised Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, condemning her recent statements regarding the ongoing agitation by National Health Mission (NHM) healthcare workers. Shah condemned politicising the issues. He said the UT Government has failed to address problems of employees and MBBS interns.
Calling the minister’s remarks insensitive and politically evasive, Shah accused the National Conference (NC)-led dispensation of shifting blame onto the opposition parties instead of resolving the pressing grievances of contractual healthcare workers who form the backbone of the region’s public health infrastructure.
Talking to media, Shah took strong exception to Itoo’s warnings of administrative action against the striking personnel and her attempts to question the opposition’s solidarity with the agitators.
Shah criticised the UT government for intimidating workers with disciplinary threats rather than offering a concrete roadmap for regularisation, pay parity, and leave benefits. The BJP leader noted that the ruling administration has made a habit of attributing every systemic issue to the central government, abandoning its constitutional duties toward healthcare personnel who served on the frontlines during major crises. Reiterating the party’s unwavering backing, Shah stressed that the demands of the NRHM staff, including salary enhancement.
“The remarks made by Health Minister Sakeena Itoo reflect sheer apathy and an attempt to evade direct accountability. NRHM workers, daily wagers and MBBS interns are not slaves, they have kept our peripheral and tertiary hospitals running and Government departments through the most trying times. Instead of dodging questions and targeting the opposition, the Health Minister must present a clear, time-bound mechanism to fulfill their legitimate demands,” Shah added.