Bhaderwah, June 21: The entire township of Bhaderwah observed a complete shutdown on Thursday against the visit of health minister Sham Lal Sharma, who was being accused of deliberately ignoring the district.
All the shops and other business establishments remained closed, while the people took to streets demanding adequate staff for the Sub District Hospital and other health institutions in the tehsil.
The protest broke out last evening, when after chairing DDB meeting at Doda the minister visited the township to take stock of the ongoing work at the new hospital complex. Hundreds of people assembled at Dak Banglow and shouted slogans against the minister accusing him for ignoring the mountainous belt for political reasons. As the minister paid no heed to the locals, the people called for a day long protest today.
The people took strong exception of the statement by the minister, in a meeting here, that four doctors posted in sub district hospital were enough to cater the need of local population.
While the shutdown completely paralyzed the normal life in the townshop, thousands of people took to streets and staged a noisy protest demonstration against the minister.
“It is unfortunate that the area was being ignored and discriminated with due to some political reasons”, Arif Hussain, a protestor said adding, “Last evening the minister on his arrival took a meeting and claimed that there was no shortage of doctors in the hospital, while the face it that only four doctors were presently serving in the Sub District Hospital”.
However, Congress MLC Naresh Kumar Sharma told the media persons that the protest was uncalled for, especially at the time when the township was gearing up for the annual Bhaderwah festival.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST