AIIMS issue: NC, JCCI, Sena, Panthers show support

Several political parties, social groups and trade organisations have extended their full support to the three-day-long bandh called by the Coordination Committee demanding setting up of AIIMS in Jammu.
Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) Chief Rakesh Gupta said, "the chamber being an association of traders and industrialists at no point feels that confrontation should be the right course but the unilateral attitude of the government has left us with no choice on issue like AIIMS and completion of projects in Jammu."
He said that there are the issues related to AIIMS and completion of pending projects in Jammu, in support of which the chamber being the part of coordination committee has already called for Jammu provincial bandh on 19th, 20th and 21st June.

The chamber feels that the coalition government is working totally directionless, unilaterally and in discriminatory manner.
Gupta also hailed the statement made by Lal Singh, Minister for Health and Medical Education today while speaking at the function organised in honour of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Akhnoor wherein he openly said that if AIIMS is not constructed at Jammu first, the same shall not be allowed to be constructed in Kashmir.
The Chamber strongly feels that the way in which the government is working and the state is heading, it shall lead to total chaos and panic and feels that trifurcation of the state is the only remedy left.

While welcoming the decision with regard to establishment of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Kashmir,National Conference today asked the PDP-BJP Government to clarify its stand on setting up of a similar institute in Jammu, as divergent posturing by different political entities of the ruling establishment in the Union and the State had precipitated the issue and confounded the situation.
"We have all along welcomed the decision to establish AIIMS in Kashmir and have also demanded similar institutes for Jammu and Ladakh", Provincial President Devender Singh Rana said in a statement, adding that the response of the PDP and BJP has been irresponsible, confusing and ambiguous.

He said the hanging of issue has taken serious proportions with normal life in Jammu getting haywire by continuous hunger strike and the proposed 72 hour Bandh.