JAMMU: The chain hunger strike launched by AIIMS coordination committee, an incorporation of various civil society groups spearheading agitation in support of setting up of an AIIMS in Jammu region, entered 17 June. The members of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) took their turn to sit on the strike
“It is third consecutive day of the strike. People from various sections have sat on the strike in support of the AIIMS demand. We will continue till our demand is met. Today the members of CCI sat on the strike,” JCCI President Rakish Gupta told reporters here today The AIIMS coordination committee, an amalgamation of over 70 social, religious, political, and business organizations in Jammu, was established after the reported shifting of AIIMS from Jammu region to Kashmir region To press for their demand of the institute to be brought back to Jammu, the AIIMS coordination committee, supported by the members from other civil society groups, had started its indefinite dharma and chain hunger strike led by Abhinav Sharma, president of the J&K High Court Bar Association. The coordination committee members, supported by Congress party, are on hunger strike in front of the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi Bridge.
“The youth want to come on roads to protest. We don’t want the situation slip from the hands and take a violent turn, so we have resorted to peaceful means. We will continue our protest till the AIIMS is returned to us,” a member of the coordination committee said. Accusing the government of discriminating against the Jammu region, the AIIMS coordination committee has decided to continue with its chain hunger strike unless the central and state government make formal announcement of the return of AIIMS to Jammu.
