AIIMS Row - Congress burns effigy of deputy chief minister

The state unit of Congress today held a protest against the BJP leadership for their failure to fulfill the commitment of establishing AIIMS in Jammu and burned the effigy of deputy chief minister.
The Congress activists burnt the effigy of deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and also disrupted the traffic on the Tawi Bridge.
Several senior leaders of the party joined the protest as they carried placards with slogans against the BJP leadership.
"The BJP leadership in the state and the Centre has failed to fulfill the commitment of getting a written order for setting up of AIIMS in Jammu," a protester said.

Accusing the BJP of betraying the people of Jammu for the sake of sharing power with PDP, the Congress leaders alleged that the 'saffron party' has sold the rights of the people of Jammu.
The protest was led by former minister and senior vice president of JKPCC Sham Lal Sharma, former ministers Mula Ram and Raman Bhalla, besides other office bearers of the party.

While addressing the protesters Sham Lal Sharma lashed out at the BJP and its ministers and legislators who "betrayed the people even after written commitment to fulfill the demand by July 20".
"It is shameful for the BJP and its leaders who breached the trust of the people, even after a fixed deadline as per written commitment and now they have no moral right to stay as ministers", Sharma said.

While extending full support to the AIIMS coordination committee for intensifying the struggle, Congress leaders declared that the Congress would further strengthen and intensify the movement to take it to the logical conclusion.