J&K AIIMS: 72-hour long bandh called off as government assures decision by July 20

Jammu: The 72-hour long bandh call given by AIIMS coordination committee was called off on Thursday after the J&K government assured to hold talks with the Centre and take a decision on the issue by July 20.

"We have given an assurance to the AIIMS coordination committee that we will talk to Centre to obtain appropriate orders by July 20", Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told reporters after a four-and-a half hour long discussion with the AIIMS committee in Jammu on Thursday.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the agitation by the AIIMS coordination committee has been deferred.

"Principally a consensus has been achieved that Jammu should have an AIIMS and that should be established soon. We have given this assurance to the members of the coordination committee, who are also our people," he said.

Abhinav Sharma, President, J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu said, "The Deputy Chief Minister and other ministers gave us in writing that before July 20, they will bring appropriate orders from Government of India for the establishment of AIIMS".

"On the written assurance, we have decided to defer the 72-hours long bandh call," he told media.

On reports of few members of the committee expressing reservations about the talks, Sharma said the members may have differing views in their personal capacity.

Talking to reporters, former Jammu Bar Association President, BS Salathia said, "We had differences over calling off the bandh. They have actually succumbed before the government."

The AIIMS committee had on June 16 announced three-day Jammu bandh from June 19 to intensify the agitation demanding setting up of the premier medical institute in Jammu, which has reportedly been shifted to Kashmir Valley.

Chanting pro-AIIMS and anti-government slogans, the members were sitting on hunger strike for the past one week.

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.

The group also has the backing of several political parties, including Congress and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP).