Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Saturday called for a united campaign to press the Centre for sanctioning an IIT and an IIM for Kashmir Valley at par with Jammu region of the state.
“I am organising an all party round-table meeting on November 28, so that we all unite to pressurise New Delhi to sanction an IIT and an IIM for Kashmir in a similar way like both the institutions were sanctioned for Jammu,” Rashid told reporters here.
He said he would invite all mainstream parties, trade bodies, bar association and students’ organisations for the meeting to put up a united platform. “I am in touch with (opposition National Conference (NC) working president) Omar Abdullah and have written to PDP MPs as well. I hope all the parties and other organisations unite on this issue so that we get what we deserve,” Rashid, who represents north Kashmir’s Langate assembly constituency, said.
The MLA said he would reach out to separatists as well over the issue and take their suggestions. “We will try to reach to them and I am ready to take their suggestions. There is no politics involved in this and there will be no impact on anyone’s ideology,” he said.
He said even as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had sought votes for his party the PDP in the name of development of Kashmir, “what has he achieved by allying with the BJP”. “AIIMS was sanctioned for Kashmir only and Jammu were granted an IIT and an IIM. But the BJP planned an agitation there and they also got an AIIMS. I am not against Jammu, but Kashmir should also have been given IIT and IIM. What has Sayeed achieved?” he said.
