AIIMS row: Hunger strike enters day 8

The chain hunger strike resumed by the AIIMS Coordination Committee (ACC), demanding setting up of AIIMS in the district entered the eighth consecutive day on Tuesday, 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 will continue till the government is forced to sanction AIIMS for Jammu,” ACC Chairman Abhinav Sharma said. He added 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 tried to contact them as of now.

ACC, an amalgamation of over 70 organisations, is spearheading the agitation for setting up of an AIIMS in the Jammu region.

They have announced a three-day Jammu bandh, starting July 31. It will be the third <g data-gr-id="21">bandh</g> observed over the issue in Jammu since April this year. Sharma appealed to the residents of Jammu to support the bandh to send a message to the government that they would not tolerate injustice.

He expressed confidence that after the success of <g data-gr-id="18">Lalkaar</g> rally of July 25, the proposed <g data-gr-id="19">candle light</g> protest march on July 29 would also become a success.