Excelsior Correspondent
—Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Aug 12: Taking strong exception on the failure of the Central Government to issue formal notification as per the provision of the AIIMS Act for setting up of separate and independent AIIMS in Jammu, the Congress leaders from Jammu today threatened to intensify the agitation and resort to ‘gherao’ the Ministers and legislators from BJP, besides leading a march and stage massive dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, if the necessary orders in this regard are not issued before September 1, 2015.
Addressing a joint press conference PCC headquarters here today, former Ministers Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla and PCC chief spokesman Ravinder Sharma lashed out at the State Government, especially the coalition partner- BJP for using all foul means to sabotage and crush the movement for AIIMS in Jammu by the people under the banner of AIIMS Co-ordination Committee. They severely criticized and condemned the undemocratic and coercive methods adopted by the Government under the instruction of the BJP at the Centre to crush the voice of people for their genuine cause.
Launching attack on saffron party, they said that firstly the BJP bartered the interests of the people for the sake of sharing power, as the people gave them massive mandate in Jammu on their tall claims to champion the cause of Jammu region and thereafter, indulged in all sorts of tactics to fail the struggle launched by the civil society through Coordination Committee which has the mass support of all sections of people.
They pointed out that the BJP leadership, time and again gave commitments to fulfill the demand of the people but their real intention behind such commitments and vague announcements was aimed at weakening the movement, hoping that it would fizzle-out slowly. In this direction, all sorts of tactics including coercive and undemocratic methods were adopted against the respectable citizens and members of the Bar. Even the peaceful ‘dharna’ of the Coordination Committee was also forcibly lifted from the original site, who are seeking appropriate formal orders as per written commitment of the Government representatives.
Expressing strong resentment over the attitude of the State and the Centre Government, the senior Congress leaders questioned the ‘drum beating’ exercise by the BJP leaders including ‘Dhanyewaad rally’ and big hoardings with out issuance of any formal notification as required under the relevant provisions of the AIIMS Act.
Announcing to further intensify the agitation in the coming days till the formal orders are issued, the senior Congress leaders said that if necessary orders are not issued till August 25, the Congress workers would moblise people to `gherao’ the houses of Ministers and BJP legislators. It would further moblise lakhs of people to march to Delhi and organize a big dharna at Jantar Mantar to force the Central Government to fulfill the commitment from September.
Others present in the conference included Ex-MLA Indu Pawar, Anil Chopra-DCC president, Manmohan Singh, Vikram Malhotra and former MoS Manjit Singh.
Follow our WhatsApp channel