Muslims write in Sanskrit to PM for AIIMS in Bundelkhand

Mahoba (UP), May 11: Adopting a novel way of making an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Muslims in this Bundelkhand district are writing to him in Sanskrit demanding establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

"We have lauched a campaign to get an AIIMS for this district and for this, over 50,000 postcards have already been sent to the prime minister. Now, Mulsim youths and children are writing to him in Sanskrit with the demand. Soon, over 10,000 such post cards will be sent to him," social activist Tara Patkar said.

Patkar, who is coordinator of Bundeli Samaj which spearheads the campaign, told PTI, "We are also going to send 10,000 letters to PM in Urdu and Bundeli besides other languages like Sindhi, Punjabi and even Malayalam with the same demand."

The campaign was launched in March and some 1,000 post cards are being sent to the prime minister daily from this district, which has a population of around 10 lakh.

"Camps are being run at all prominent places like railway stations, bus stops and hospitals to make the campaign a success. Even schools have also been approached," he said. Explaining the logic behind the demand, Patkar said the district is situated at the heart of Bundelkhand and does not have medical care facilities.

"Patients admitted in primary health centres are referred to Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra and to districts of neigbouring Madhya Pradesh. Setting up of AIIMS will help the entire region, spread over seven districts in UP and five of MP," he said.

The campaign is being supported by all those who belong to the district but are living abroad. "Those living in the US, England, Australia and Saudi Arabia are also helping us in the campaign by writing similar letters to the prime minister. We are also taking donations in the form of post-cards, which are being distributed through camps," Patkar added.

PTI