Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday said the demands of protesting medical interns were genuine and the government had already initiated the process to address them.
Itoo said the file concerning the interns’ demands was with the Finance Department and the government was working on the matter.
“The children met me too. I told them that your demand is genuine. We are helping you in this. You don’t need to go on strike,” she told media -persons at Bijbehara.
Itoo criticised opposition parties for holding candlelight vigils in support of the protesting interns, accusing them of showing “false sympathy” and politicising the issue.
“When they were in power, they couldn’t increase their salary by 5 paise. Today they are making hollow claims,” she said.
“When they had power, tell me what they have done for the interns. If they have done something, they should bring it forward,” she added.
Itoo also questioned the opposition’s record during its 15 years in power, saying the National Conference government had been in office for two years.
Reiterating the party’s demand for restoration of statehood, Itoo said the National Conference would continue peaceful protests for the rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will continue to fight for the rights which were snatched from us. This is the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, referring to the recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Earlier, Itoo, accompanied by MLA, Bijbehara, Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri visited Zeba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education run by Padma Shri awardee and social worker Javed Ahmad Tak and praised his work for children with disabilities.
She assured the institution of government support through the Education and Social Welfare departments and advised it to apply for grant-in-aid from the Social Welfare Department to improve facilities for the children.
Itoo also interacted with specially- abled children.
