Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science, and Technology N.S. Boseraju addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Despite a relentless 1,000-day struggle and multiple appeals from the Chief Minister, Ministers, and elected representatives, the Centre has not provided a positive response on the sanctioning of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Raichur, said Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science, and Technology N.S. Boseraju.
Instead of sanctioning AIIMS, the Centre has been engaging in “political manoeuvring” by merely suggesting an increase in health facilities under the National Health Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), he said.
Neglecting KK region
Speaking to reporters at the Congress party office here on Wednesday, he criticised the Centre for repeatedly neglecting the Kalyana Karnataka (KK) region.
“The Centre is systematically depriving Raichur of its rightful development – socially, politically, and economically. As per our federal structure, it is the Centre’s duty to ensure social, economic, and political justice for every state,” he said. The Centre’s continuous disregard for the legitimate demands of Karnataka is a violation of Constitutional principles, the Minister asserted.
The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), launched in 2003, was designed to reduce regional imbalances in healthcare by establishing AIIMS hospitals in various parts of the country. Under this scheme, the Centre has already sanctioned AIIMS institutions in 22 states.
Ten requests made
“Our government has made more than 10 official requests at various levels seeking a sanction for AIIMS for Raichur. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking approval. Despite these efforts, the Union Finance Ministry continued to delay the sanctioning of AIIMS to Raichur, even though the district qualified under Article 371J as a backward district with Aspirational district status,” Mr. Boseraju said
In a letter dated January 14, 2025, BJP president and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda informed Mr. Siddaramaiah about steps being taken for improving healthcare facilities in the KK region under the NHM grants. However, Mr. Nadda had not shown interest in approving AIIMS, Mr. Boseraju said.
He strongly objected to the “double standards” of the Union government, which has sanctioned 22 AIIMS institutes across the country but still expected Karnataka to settle for alternative healthcare schemes under the NHM and the PM-ABHIM.
No pressure from BJP
The Minister lashed out at Karnataka BJP leaders, who hold ministerial positions in the Union government, for their lack of initiative.
The BJP, which lost five Lok Sabha seats in the KK region, seems to be “taking revenge” on the people instead of working for their welfare, he said. If the Centre continues such deliberate neglect, Karnataka will witness statewide protests, with people taking to the streets to demand justice, he warned.
Published – February 05, 2025 09:15 pm IST