Three-day shutdown in Jammu over AIIMS

Protesters have accused the central government of going back on its promise of setting up an AIIMS in Jammu

A committee of lawyers, traders and civil society members called for a three-day shutdown in Jammu beginning on Friday, accusing the central government of going back on its promise of setting up an AIIMS here.

A coordination committee formed for pressing the government for setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu comprises lawyers, traders, industrialists and civil society members.

"The Jammu region will remain shut on July 31, August 1 and 2," Abhinav Sharma, chairman of the committee and president of Jammu Bar Association said at a hurriedly convened midnight press conference here.

"It became clear on July 20 that BJP had taken recourse to dirty politics as it failed to stand by its commitment to ensure that AIIMS for Jammu region is announced," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh had given a written assurance that AIIMS would be announced before July 21.

The central government has announced setting up of an AIIMS in the Kashmir Valley, and an IIM in the the Jammu region.