Srinagar, May 20: A day after Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the tragic death of infants in Valley’s sole maternity hospital, G B Pant, as “shameful” and blamed State Government  for “non-utilization of funds for constructions of pediatric  hospitals”, Senior National Conference leader and legislator Dr Mustafa Kamaal Sunday said that State Congress was trying to portray Omar Abdullah as “murderer of  the infants”.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir over phone Kamaal, who represents Hazratbal constituency in State Assembly, said State Congress was dubbing Omar Abdullah as “murderer” of infants.
 “They should have waited for inquiry into the deaths before going public against State Government. I don’t know why he (Azad) is trying to malign National Conference Government. Let him cry, he cannot break the government as Centre is with us,” he said, adding “Even their might be hand of Congress behind blowing the issue of infant death out of proportion.”
 “This is a sensitive state and it is not like Bihar or Jharkand, where you can speak whatever you want. One should think twice before uttering a single word here,” he added.
 The GB Pant hospital here has witnessed more than 365 deaths since January this year. In March alone the number of deaths have been more than 105. Lack of facilities at the institute are believed to be one of the reasons for the high rate of deaths.
 Kamaal minced no words in castigating Azad for blaming State government for non- utilization of funds meant for construction of two pediatric hospitals. “Even the colleges opened by Azad during his tenure are without requisite infrastructure and teaching staff, till date,” he said.
 The NC leader said that call by Congress leaders to walkout of the coalition government, during their convention yesterday, was result of infighting within their own ranks. “The State Congress is divided into three to four factions and there is resentment among Congress cadres against their Ministers. That is why they spoke like this (yesterday),” he added.
 The Congress leadership on Saturday had called for an early election in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of “victimization” by the government led by their ally National Conference.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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