Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 4: The activists of Congress, National Conference, J&K National Panthers Party and other organizations held protests at different places across the region for their demand to set up AIIMS in Jammu on the fifth consecutive day of Jammu bandh today.
Congress activists led by former minister Raman Bhalla held strong protest in Sainik Colony today. The protest programme was organised by former Corporator from Congress Jai Singh. The party workers shouted slogans against BJP leadership and demanded restoration of AIIMS to Jammu. They alleged that BJP leaders including Dr Nirmal Singh, Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Health Minister Ch Lal Singh and Forest Minister Bali Bhagat were befooling the people of Jammu on the issue of AIIMS. The workers also burnt the effigy of DyCM.
Raman Bhalla addressed the gathering and criticized the BJP for its total surrender before the Valley based leadership and taking U-turn on all its core issues for the sake of power and befooling people of Jammu on AIIMS issue. He condemned the police action on the peaceful protesters in the region. Bhalla said that BJP was trying to gag the voice of Jammu people. Jai Singh, Rahul Singh, Sikander Singh and R S Khajuria also addressed the gathering.
Another strong protest was held by Congress and PYC activists under the leadership of Manjit Singh Jatt ( Secy PCC) along with some members AIIMS Coordination Committee at Gole Gujral in Jammu. They were demanding restoration of AIIMS to Jammu. The protesters burnt the tyres of the vehicles and also burnt the effigy of DyCM and blocked Gho Manasan road for some time. Manjit Singh, Rajveer Singh, Bikram Singh, Kamaljit Singh and some other party leaders addressed the gathering and alleged that BJP was befooling the people of Jammu.
A group of Congress activists led by PCC secretary Thomas Khokhar held protest at Residency Road, Jammu. The police detained Khokhar and some more activists for defying Section 144. They were later released by City Police.
Intensifying their campaign in support of AIIMS, Youth Congress and NSUI activists held strong protest demonstration near Wave Mall at Narwal and disrupted movement of traffic on Bye-Pass road for some time. They were shouting slogans demanding setting up of AIIMS in Jammu. They also burnt the effigy of the BJP leaders and marched towards Narwal Chowk in a rally. NSUI State president Neeraj Kundan and AYC GandhiNagar president Jatinder Singh Chib addressed the gathering and flayed BJP for befooling people on AIIMS issue.
PCC general secretary, Namrata Sharma also led a protest in Ward No. 70 of Sainik Colony area. The Congress activists were raising slogan in support of their favourite demand of setting up of full-fledged AIIMS in Jammu. The protesters also torched the effigy of BJP leadership to show their anger against it.
Mrs Sharma while addressing gathering said that people of Jammu are on streets and roads and they are prepared not to tolerate any more discrimination against the region. She lambasted the BJP leaders and minister from Jammu for spreading wrong information in the public to sabotage the ongoing agitation for AIIMS. She said the BJP leadership from Jammu has totally surrendered the interests of Jammu for the sake of power.
Targeting State as well as Central Govt policy on already announced AIIMS to Jammu, a large number of Congress workers and general public of Chenani Ghordi constituency took out strong procession under the leadership of Krishan Chander Bhagat former MLA on AIIMS issue. The agitators shouted slogans against the State Govt for its discriminatory attitude. The Ex-MLA cautioned the Govt against its misdeeds and deceitful stance and demanded restoration of AIIMS to Jammu.
Continuing with its protests on the fifth day of Jammu bandh for the restoration of AIIMS for Jammu, a large number of NPP activists assembled at main chowk of Miran Sahib and took out a massive protest rally against the BJP’s policy of oppression and suppression to forcefully scuttle the peaceful AIIMS agitation launched by people of Jammu region.
The rally was spearheaded by Harshdev Singh, chairman of the party and Yashpal Kundal, State president, Young Panthers. The rally started from main chowk Miran Sahib and was culminated at Maralian Morh where the leaders addressed the gathering. Mr Singh lambasted the BJP for using oppressive measures to silence the voice of the people and strongly rebuked the use of police force against the peaceful protestors.
He said that BJP’s politics of betrayal followed by the policy of oppression has unveiled its political frustration. He said that people of Jammu are wise enough to decipher the sinister and ominous intentions of BJP who shall give a befitting reply to this party for its policy of deceit and repression in the days to come.
Another strong protest was held at Surankote in Poonch by the NPP activists under the leadership of Balwant Singh Mankotia. The rally started from Dak Bungalow and after passing through various markets and localities it culminated at Hari Mohalla. Mr Mankotia also addressed strong gathering. Over 150 NPP activists later courted arrest but they were let off shortly. Local NPP leader Nissar Shah had organised protest programme.
Jammu West Assembly Movement activists also held protests at New Plot, Sarwal and Rehari here and burnt the effigy of DyCM demanding restoration of AIIMS to Jammu. Sunil Dimple was leading the protests. He alleged that BJP leaders were befooling the people.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has condemned the police action over the peaceful protest by the people on AIIMS issue.
In a joint press statement senior leaders Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla and Vikram Malhotra strongly condemned the attitude of the administration to use police force against the peaceful protesters struggling for AIIMS in Jammu. They flayed the Government to sabotage the agitation and scuttle the voice of the people.
In a joint meeting of Bar Association, Udhampur and Beopar Mandal Udhampur, Associated Chambers of Commerce and prominent social organizations under the leadership of Pawan Jandial, president Bar Association Udhampur unanimously declared to fully support ongoing agitation for establishment of AIIMS In Jammu. They also thanked the people of Udhampur for according unconditional support during last five days of bandh.
JK Youth Sharnarthi Action Committee also supported the Jammu bandh and condemned the attitude of administration for sabotaging agitation by using force. R C Sharma president of the Committee appealed the people to remain united for the common cause.
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