AIIMS row: Hunger strike enters eighth day

The chain hunger strike resumed by the AIIMS coordination committee (ACC) demanding setting up of an AIIMS here entered its eighth consecutive day today with a fresh batch of protesters taking their turn.
"A fresh batch of protesters today took their turn to sit for the day-long hunger strike. Our agitation would continue until and unless the government is forced to sanction AIIMS for Jammu," Chairman of the ACC, Abhinav Sharma said.
He said that eight days have passed since the ACC resumed the strike on July 21 - after calling off their first leg of strike - but not a single state government representative has so far tried to contact them.

ACC, an amalgamation of over 70 organisations, is spearheading the agitation for setting up of an AIIMS in the Jammu region.
They have given a three-day complete Jammu bandh call starting from July 31. It will be the third bandh observed over the issue in Jammu since April this year.
Sharma appealed to the people of Jammu to support the bandh to send a message to the government that people of Jammu would not tolerate injustice with them.

He expressed confidence that after the success of Lalkaar rally of July 25, the proposed candle light protest march on July 29 would also become a success.

"The ACC will organise a candle light protest march on Wednesday and people from different walks of life including civil society groups of Jammu would participate in March," he said.
While accusing the BJP of surrendering the AIIMS to appease the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he said, "the manner in which the BJP has surrendered AIIMS to the PDP has shocked the people of Jammu region and put them on a road to confrontation."
He said the government has forced the ACC to take the route of confrontation and added that the agitation would intensify in the coming days if the government does not concede to their demand.

A complete bandh was earlier observed on April 24 and May 27 after which Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had given a written assurance that an AIIMS will be announced for Jammu by the Centre on or before July 20.
The ACC resumed its agitation on July 21 after no such announcement was made within that time.