Members of Jammu Computer Dealers Association, Home Guards Association and a Samiti today sat on hunger strike in front of the statue of erstwhile Dogra King Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi Bridge supporting the agitation for setting up AIIMS in Jammu.
Chanting pro-AIIMS and anti-government slogans, they demanded setting up of the premier medical institute in Jammu, which has reportedly been shifted to Kashmir Valley.
"We have demanded AIIMS. The strike would continue until the demand is fulfilled and justice done to the people of Jammu region", Former Jammu Bar Association president, Advocate B S Salathia told PTI.
"The AIIMS Coordination Committee, during its meeting, decided to call for a complete Jammu bandh for three days from June 19 to June 21 to protest against the shifting of AIIMS from Jammu to Kashmir," said Abhinav Sharma, President of J-K High Court Bar Association, Jammu.
More From This Section
He said various business organisations, which form a part of the AIIMS Coordination Committee, have supported the bandh.
The AIIMS coordination committee, an amalgam of more than 70 social, religious, political, business and civil society groups including J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, which is spearheading the campaign, has the backing of several political parties, including Congress and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).
Reiterating its commitment towards establishment of AIIMS in Jammu, BJP had last night termed the Coordination Panel's call for three-day bandh as an attempt by some "vested elements" to mislead the public and disturb the situation ahead of Amarnath Yatra in the state.
"There is no logic in it (bandh) as Union Minister Jitendra Singh and Deputy CM Nirmal Singh have announced that AIIMS will be set up in Jammu before it is established in any other part of the state," BJP state chief and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma had said.