After azadi remark, Kashmir minister shares dias with Omar

JAMMU - A day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hinted at action against Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma for his controversial statement on “azadi” for Kashmir, the two appeared together at a public function in the border town of Rajouri Thursday.

Both Abdullah and Sharma avoided touching upon the recent controversy triggered by Sharma’s remark that “Jammu region is facing the worst kind of discrimination at the hands of Kashmir-centric rulers” and his plea for a separate state of Jammu region at a rally of Congress workers on Sunday.

The chief minister told newsmen in Jammu Wednesday that “the minister’s statement and its context is being examined by appropriate quarters and whatever action would have to be taken will be taken”.

The two on Thursday flew in the same helicopter for the inauguration of an additional block of district hospital in Rajouri, 160 km north of Jammu, and shared the stage at a public meeting.

Both underlined the need to improve the quality of healthcare services and sought the help of people in maintaining peace.

“While steps are being taken to upgrade health facility in the cities and towns, various measures have been initiated to strengthen the medical service at district and village levels,” Abdullah said.

“The establishment of modern district hospitals would go in a big way to provide specialised medical treatment to the people at district level,” he added.

Sham Lal Sharma said the coalition government “has underlined health sector as one of the most important sectors and attention has been focused to reach out to every area to ensure better facilities”.