Umer Maqbool

Indepedent journalist/ Researcher / State subject of J&K

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Q1. Why did it take four years to lay the foundation stone for the AIIMS project? On February 28, 2015, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in his budget speech for 2015–16, announced the setting up of AIIMS-like institutions in different states, including the three northern states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. While the foundation stones for AIIMS in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were laid on November 25, 2016, and October 3, 2017, respectively, the foundation stone for AIIMS Awantipora was laid only on February 3, 2019. Why did it take almost four years to lay the foundation stone for a project announced in 2015?

It took 1437 days to lay the foundation stone for the project. The PDP–BJP government was in place from March 1, 2015, to June 20, 2018, excluding the brief period after the demise of your grandfather. Out of those 1437 days wasted, your government was in power in Jammu & Kashmir for 1120 days. The people of Kashmir deserve answers: why did it take four years to lay the foundation stone for both AIIMS projects? Why didn’t your “double-engine” government get it done quickly?

Q2. Is Omar Abdullah also responsible for six years of Central rule? Was not Jammu & Kashmir under central rule for more than six years between June 2018 and October 2024? You could have impressed upon New Delhi as well as its administration in Jammu & Kashmir to expedite the work during those six years. Is Omar Abdullah also responsible for that period? I kn

Q3. Omar Abdullah’s government can only be held responsible if they had delayed land acquisition, shifting of utilities, or providing electricity and drinking water facilities to AIIMS during their 19-month tenure.
Q4. Site feasibility concerns Omar Abdullah is rightly pointing out that the site chosen was not feasible for setting up an AIIMS-like institution in Jammu. AIIMS should have been established at a centrally located place, which would have been more accessible for people from North Kashmir, Central Kashmir, and South Kashmir.

Q5. Objections from non-civilian authorities. Is it not a fact that there were reservations from a non-civilian authority regarding the construction of AIIMS Awantipora ? Their objections confirmed that the site was not feasible for such a major institution.

Q6. Location choice Is it correct to establish a Rs 2000 crore health institution on a hillock?

Q7. Review of the AIIMS project Last evening you claimed that Omar Abdullah did not review the AIIMS project in the past two years. Did Omar Abdullah not review the project on September 8, 2025? On August 20, 2025, CM Omar Abdullah called for expediting the pace of work to ensure that the institute is completed at the earliest.

[Iltija Mufti @IltijaMufti_]

Only if they’d spent even half of this energy about why she visited on WHY AIIMS Awantipora still remains incomplete a decade after Mufti Sahab laid its foundation in 2015! At least for whatever reason AIIMS Awantipora is back in focus. This government’s priorities & sense of entitlement will cost people of J&K deeply.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

@Dr_Shabir_00 Mehbooba Mufti is a common citizen now. She can question AIIMS via media or RTI. She cannot compel officials to brief her. Anyone can visit AIIMS for sightseeing or as a patient when it opens. Everyone can't preside over review meetings.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Legally Speaking
Q1. Can a former MLA or former CM review an AIIMS project? 
Ans: No. Under the AIIMS Act, 1956, the authority to review, control, and oversee AIIMS projects lies exclusively with the Central Government and bodies of AIIMS.
As per Section 4 of the AIIMS Act, three sitting Members of Parliament (MPs)-two elected from among the Lok Sabha and one elected from among the Rajya Sabha- must be appointed to the Institute Body of AIIMS.
The Act states: “Three members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected from among themselves by the members of the House of the People and one from among themselves by the members of the Council of States.”
This means:
(a).MPs from the Lok Sabha hold an internal election to choose two representatives.
(b).MPs from the Rajya Sabha hold an internal election to choose one representative.
Under the AIIMS Regulations, 2019, one MP member is elected from three elected members of Institutute Body to Governing Body of AIIMS.

After reviewing the AIIMS Act, AIIMS Rules and AIIMS Regulations, it is beyond doubt that former MLAs or former CMs have no mandate under the Act to review or intervene in AIIMS projects.
In short: Neither a sitting MLA nor a former MLA or former CM has any authority to review AIIMS projects.
Q2. What is the role of the State Government? 
Ans :The State Government has a very limited role in AIIMS. Its responsibilities are mainly supportive: Providing land, utilities, and coordinating on matters such as road connectivity, electricity, water supply.
Q. Who decides location of AIIMS ?
Ans: Under sub-section (3) of Section 12 of the AIIMS Act, 1956, the Central Government alone decides where new AIIMS institutes will be set up.

The Act states: “All Institutes [other than the existing Institute and corresponding Institutes referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2)] shall be located at such places as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.”

This makes it clear that the location of AIIMS is finalized by the Union Government. The Union Cabinet, based on feasibility studies and expert input, selects the location. The State Government suggests alternate 4-5 alternate sites, but the final decision rests with the Central Government.
Why no IIM for Kashmir ?
AIIMS Announcement
Was the AIIMS announcement a political gift from the BJP to the PDP for entering into the alliance, or was establishment of AIIMS in Kashmir incorporated into the Agenda of Alliance only after Jaitley’s budget speech-since the Agenda of Alliance was released a day after his announcement?
 Jammu too gets AIIMS. Following protests from locals in Jammu, the Central Government announced the establishment of another AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir.

I am not against Jammu, but the announcement of AIIMS in Jammu appeared to disregard the PDP–BJP Agenda of Alliance, which had promised AIIMS for Kashmir Valley only. The question remains: Why did the PDP fail to secure the IIM for Kashmir, while the BJP succeeded in getting AIIMS for Jammu?

[Sakina Itoo @sakinaitoo]

Some people seem to be suffering from political amnesia. They still behave as if they are in power, even though they lost office in 2018 and have since been repeatedly rejected by the people.

The elected government today is led by Hon’ble Chief Minister Jb Omar Abdullah. Yet, one wonders in what capacity former rulers are conducting reviews of the AIIMS Awantipora project. More importantly, who is signalling them to undertake such exercises? Which power centre in Delhi is directing these actions?

It is ironic that those because of whom the AIIMS project moved at a painfully slow pace are now trying to claim ownership of its progress. The fact is that the project is moving towards completion because of the focused efforts, monitoring and commitment of the present government under the leadership of CM Omar Abdullah.

The people of Jammu & Kashmir are wise enough to distinguish between those who delayed development and those who are ensuring its delivery.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

J&K is effectively under 3 power centers.

[Mehbooba Mufti @MehboobaMufti]

Spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda ji & requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn’t get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time.

Undoubtedly the team assigned here is toiling day & night but given how healthcare is crumbling across J&K it’s imperative AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon. Will provide much needed relief & quality medical services.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Joint Awami Action Committee, which demanded scrapping of 12 J&K migrant seats in PoK Assembly, has been banned by the PoK govt. JAAC alleged Pakistan's ruling parties use these seats to rig mandate of PoK. Similar symbolic reservation also exists for PoK in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act- 2019. As many as 24 seats are kept vacant in J&K Assembly for PoK residents.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

@parasnsingh95 No one should have an issue with visit of a sitting MLA or sitting MP but former CM lacks any authority to conduct review of any project under central or state government .

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Hello @MehboobaMufti ji, is it appropriate to mock @OmarAbdullah's remarks before Central Government officials, likely from CPWD and AIIMS? Should political differences be aired in front of officers from Central Government departments? Such conduct before officers of Central Government departments is best avoided.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Ghulam Muhammad Shah, commonly known as Gul Shah, respected the CM’s chair even after leaving it. Laid foundation of a big lift irrigation project in my village when he was CM. Never came back for photo-ops or for taking its credit . Lesson for every former CM.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Maybe @DrVeeri posted it in consultation with @OmarAbdullah, given how quickly CM reposted it.

[Azhar Hussain Tantray @_azharhussain_]

This is NC's wilful display of political chemistry. CM @OmarAbdullah’s sharp reprimand of Dr. Veeri in the Assembly had fueled gossip of a growing rift.

But this photo of Dr. Veeri, reposted by CM, appears to send the message: All is Well & reports of discord are overstated.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

Sometimes people assume that everything happening around them is happening because of them, as if they are the cause or the center of every event.
A post on X by someone reflects a tension between feelings of exclusion and a simultaneous desire to remain central to the narrative. It is a curious case of a sense of inferiority complex and grandeur of delusion operating at the same time, producing a hybrid self-image person.

[Umer Maqbool @umerjournalist]

@javeddar786 My dear brother, I stand by what I have written. Multiple sources have confirmed it. I now hope the Deputy CM will reverse the discriminatory allocation of funds. If he fails to do so, the CM will have no option but to act against him.