Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi | Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi and Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday engaged in a verbal row over the establishment of an AIIMS in the state.
While Gopi dared Muraleedharan to sit and discuss the matter with him, the health minister brushed aside the challenge, stating he does not see the central minister as a politician.
The verbal duel began after Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural gas and Tourism, was told by reporters in Kochi that Muraleedharan had allegedly said that the central minister was making statements about establishing an AIIMS without being aware of the entire facts.
Irked by that, Gopi responded,"Is that so? Well ask him to come and sit with me on the issue if he has the courage for it. He can also bring the media. His CM has understood the things I had to say." At the same time, the union minister also said that he was not sure if Muraleedharan had made any such statement.
He also said that he was tired of explaining again and again about the central and state lists in the Constitution.
"Health is a state subject, but the central government provides infrastructural support. We want AIIMS in all states. The state government has to identify the location according to the prescribed parameters," Gopi said.
"AIIMS for Keralam should not be delayed. But the appropriate place for it is Thrissur," he added.
He said that if the state government was against an AIIMS in Thrissur because there is a BJP MP and minister from there, then it will be set up in the central Keralam district only.
Gopi further said that while Thrissur was accessible from all parts of the state, from an economic standpoint, Alappuzha is the appropriate place for an AIIMS.
He also said that he had told then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in February this year to add Alappuzha to the list.
"I also told him that a government should come to power that considers Thrissur for setting up an AIIMS. Only then will the premier medical institute come to Keralam," the union minister claimed.
When reporters told Muraleedharan about Gopi's challenge, the health minister said he was not going to accept it as he does not consider him as a politician.
Taking a dig at Gopi, the minister said that it was thanks to the central minister's service that his party went to the third position in all seats in Thrissur in the assembly polls.
"So, I am not going to accept his unnecessary challenges as I still do not see him as a politician," he said.
The minister further said, "Let him take the initiative to establish an AIIMS anywhere he can in Keralam. If he thinks there is a good location in his constituency, let him say that. I have an open mind on this matter." Muraleedharan said there was no doubt that an AIIMS is required in Keralam and if the central minister can show an appropriate location in his Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, "we will send officials to examine it".
The minister further said that proposals have come for setting up an AIIMS in Vaikom in Kottayam district, Chalakudy in Thrissur district as well as Kasaragod and Kozhikode districts. "However, we have not yet received a proposal for a fifth location," he said.