MADURAI: Keeping their politics aside, major political parties in Tamil Nadu have come together demanding in one voice that the central government funded All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) should be set up only in Madurai (Thoppur).
On June 27th 2017, a hunger strike meeting was organised at Thirumangalam by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in which other leading parties including the BJP, Congress and Communists participated thereby giving impetus to the ‘AIIMS for Madurai’ people’s movement.
The participation of BJP leaders and cadres in this meeting organised by the DMK was seen as highlight and it proved a point that politics will not come in the way of important issues concerning the people. Infact, BJP was the first party that extended its support to the AIIMS for Madurai movement.
FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICTS:
Making an impressive speech at Thirumangalam meeting which was well appreciated by leaders of other parties and general public, BJP State Secretary Prof.Dr.R.Srinivasan made it clear that AIIMS for Madurai is an important public issue for the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
“There is no place for party politics in this issue and that is the stand of BJP. Just because one family wanted it in Thanjavur, AIIMS should not be shifted out of Madurai. The Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy was compelled to ask for Thanjavur but there is no reasoning in that,” he pointed out.
Stating that AIIMS is not just a hospital, the BJP leader informed the gathering that the Rs.2,000 crore investment which will come from the Central government for setting up this hospital would also generate employment for youth of southern Tamil Nadu besides huge development through allied activity.
“It brings worldclass healthcare to Madurai region. Southern districts are already facing imbalance in growth. I appeal to the Tamil Nadu government to take quick action for bringing AIIMS to Madurai without delay and confusion,” he said.
Dr.Srinivasan also said that BJP is not seeing it as a competition between Madurai and Thanjavur and party’s senior leaders including Mr.Pon.Radhakrishnan and Mr.L.Ganesan have already voiced their support for Madurai.
“In 2003, the then Vajpayee government took a policy decision to start AIIMS in all States in the country to create good medical treatment facility. If the Tamil Nadu government gives land, we can immediately start the works in Madurai,” he said.
Dr.Srinivasan observed that Madurai Thoppur alone will be suitable/ideal place for setting up AIIMS since it will be easily accessible for people of 13 districts in Tamil Nadu and Madurai has good air / train/ logistics connectivity.
DMK TEAM MUST GO TO DELHI:
The BJP leader also told the DMK MLA P.Moorthy to go to Delhi immediately and meet the Union Health Minister Mr.J.P.Nadda and give a representation to him on the AIIMS for Madurai issue. “We are happy that the DMK too has joined this movement now. If all parties stand united, the Centre will be able to take the decision in favour of Madurai,” Dr.Srinivasan said.
DMK MLA P.T.R.P.Thiagarajan, Congress leader Devanathan, former Assembly speaker Sedapatti Muthiah and chief coordinator of AIIMS for Madurai movement V.S.Manimaran were among those who supported the demand.
A team from the BJP Madurai Rural led by district president Maha.Suseendhran took part in the fast meeting along with S.Sankar Pandi and Raja Sampathkumar from the BJP youth wing.
