AIIMS row: Hunger strike enters seventh day in Jammu

Jammu, Jul 27: The chain hunger strike resumed by the AIIMS coordination committee (ACC) demanding the setting up of an AIIMS here entered its seventh consecutive day today with over 60 persons taking their turn to sit for the protest.

"Today we've so far the largest group of people sitting for a day-long hunger strike. We have members from the Jammu Bar Association and also from the Jammu Gurudwara Committee," AIIMS Coordination Committee Chairman Abhinav Sharma told PTI.

He said that seven days have passed since the ACC resumed the strike on July 21 - after calling off their first leg of strike - but not one state government representative has so far tried to contact them.

ACC, an amalgamation of over 70 organisations, is leading the agitation for setting up of an AIIMS in the Jammu region. They have given a three-day complete Jammu bandh call starting July 31.

It will be third bandh observed over the issue in the Jammu region since April this year. Sharma expressed hope that the bandh would be a grand success as the ACC has the support of all trade and transport unions of the region.

"All the trade and transport unions have extended their support to the ACC. We are hopeful that the three days of Jammu bandh would be sufficient to send a strong message to the government and especially to BJP, that the people of Jammu no longer would tolerate back-stabbing," he said.

A complete bandh was earlier observed on April 24 and May 27 after which Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had given a written assurance that an AIIMS will be announced for Jammu by the Centre on or before July 20.

The ACC resumed its agitation on July 21 after no such announcement was made within that time.

PTI