KNH Shift Row Explodes: BJP Knocks Governor’s Door, Calls Move ‘Silent Shutdown of Motherhood Lifeline’
Shimla:
The simmering anger over the proposed shifting of services from Kamla Nehru Hospital has now reached the gates of Raj Bhavan. On Monday, a BJP delegation stormed in with a blunt message—stop what they called a “silent dismantling” of one of Shimla’s oldest and most emotionally rooted health institutions.
Led by party office bearers, the delegation met Governor Shivendra Kumar Gupta and submitted a detailed memorandum, flagging the proposed shift of gynaecology services to Indira Gandhi Medical College as “reckless, unplanned and dangerous.”
The BJP stated: “This is not administrative reform. This is a quiet shutdown,” the delegation said, warning that shifting a specialised 300-bed facility into an already choking IGMC could push the healthcare system to the brink.
“IGMC is bursting at the seams. You can’t dump more load and expect safe deliveries and neonatal care,” they argued.
What stings more, the party pointed out, is the legacy of Kamla Nehru Hospital—a century-old institution tied to the birth stories of lakhs of Himachali families.
“You don’t just move a hospital. You uproot trust, history and a system built over generations,” a leader remarked.
The memorandum also raised a red flag over public money. Over ₹20 crore has reportedly been pumped into upgrading KNH in recent years.
“Is this investment now being wasted? Or is there something more to the land it sits on?” the BJP asked, demanding a transparent probe into any hidden agenda behind the move.
Fee Hike Adds Fuel to Fire
Even as the KNH issue dominated the pitch, the BJP clubbed it with another flashpoint—the steep hike in Shimla’s road pass fees. Calling it a “5x financial assault,” the party slammed the jump from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000, along with a spike in processing charges.
“This is governance by penalty and pressure,” the delegation said, warning that the move would hit residents, traders and daily commuters hard. The inclusion of strict penalties, including heavy fines and possible imprisonment, was termed “excessive and anti-people.”
Agitation Warning
The BJP has now put the ball in the Governor’s court, urging immediate intervention to halt the KNH shift and roll back the fee hike. But the tone was clear—this is just the beginning.
“If the government doesn’t listen, the streets will,” the party signalled, hinting at a full-blown agitation in the coming days.
For now, the battle lines are drawn. And at the centre of it stands Kamla Nehru Hospital—no longer just a building, but a symbol of a growing public backlash.