BJP workers protest in Banihal over leader’s arrest, burn effigies of CM Omar Abdullah, MLA Sajjad Shaheen

Banihal, April 23: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest demonstration on Thursday at the Municipal Park in Banihal against the arrest of party leader Mohammad Saleem Bhat and the ongoing shortage of doctors in the area.

During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans against the Omar Abdullah-led government and also burned effigies of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen.

They accused the National Conference government of failing to provide basic public services and expressed strong resentment over the healthcare situation.

Addressing the gathering, BJP leader Mohammad Saleem Bhat said that he would continue to raise his voice for the rights of the people and was ready to make any sacrifice for the cause.

He stated that following his protest, the intervention of Member of Parliament Jitendra Singh led to action by the Health Department. According to him, the Director Health Services Jammu has issued orders for deputing one doctor to Sub-District Hospital Banihal, while three more doctors are in the process of being posted.

It is pertinent to mention that on April 21, Mohammad Saleem Bhat had locked the Sub-District Hospital Banihal for a brief period in protest against the shortage of doctors, disrupting services temporarily. The lock was later removed following intervention by the local administration, which assured redressal of the issues, and normal functioning was restored.

Subsequently, on April 22, police registered a case against Bhat and took him into custody. He was later released on bail on Wednesday evening.