Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: Showing strong resentment over Government’s decision to shift AIIMS from Jammu to Srinagar, various political, social, trade, transport and student organizations have given a call for complete bandh in Jammu tomorrow.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, the apex body of trade and industrial organizations in the region has appealed the people of the region to observe complete bandh in support of their demand to restore AIIMS to Jammu. Rakesh Gupta, president of the CCI warned the State Administration not to use muscle power to harass the traders who have collectively decided to go ahead with their proposed programme of Jammu bandh.
Mr Gupta said that Chamber has received massive support from various trade organizations including Shalamar Traders Association, Ragunath Bazar, Purani Mandi and other bodies besides Tourism Federation of Jammu, J&K Motor Transport Companies Association and J&K High Court Bar Association. He said some Government agencies are trying to sabotage the bandh call programme. But it should be made clear that Jammu people have now collectively decided to come out on the street for the demand of restoration to AIIMs to Jammu. Chamber president issued appeal to all the organizations to rise above their political affiliations and support the Jammu cause.
All J&K Motor Transport Companies Association, convenor Surinder Singh Kala has said that his organization fully supports the Jammu cause. All the bus and minibus/matador/ taxi/ autorikshaw unions have fully supported the Jammu bandh on Friday. The student bodies, social and political organizations including NPP and Shiv Sena have decided to observe complete bandh in support of the demand of setting up of AIIMS in Jammu. Truck and Tanker unions have also extendedsupport.
J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu in an emergency meeting held the presidentship of Abhinav Sharma and attended by all the office bearers have expressed their strong resentment over the decision of the Government to set up AIIMS in Kashmir instead of Jammu. Many senior advocates including A V Gupta, V R Wazir, L K Sharma, U K Jalali, Sunil Sethi, P N Goja, J P Gandhi and Rajesh Thappa spoke on the occasion and jointly decided to support Jammu bandh on Friday.
The Bar members condemned the decision of the Government to shift AIIMS to Kashmir from Jammu and warned the Government not to take such discriminatory decisions which create regional bias. It was resolved in the meeting to suspend work in High Court and all other subordinate courts and observe complete bandh on April 24. Vice president of Bar Association Pranav Kohli and general secretary A P Singh also spoke on the occasion. The Bar members in one voice appealed the people of Jammu to oppose this Government decision and join the movement.
Meanwhile, lashing out at BJP-PDP Coalition Government, for its discriminatory attitude, VHP too, has called for Jammu bandh tomorrow protesting against the decision of the Government to shift proposed AIIMS to Kashmir from Jammu. The decision for Jammu bandh was taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of advocate Leela Karan Sharma (president), in presence of senior leaders Hem Raj Khajuria, Ramakant Dubey, Rajesh Gupta, Dr Sham Lal Gupta, Dr J P Sharma, and Rakesh Sharma (BD).
Bajrang Dal ( State unit) also called for Jammu bandh on Friday. In the meeting of the Dal held under the chairmanship of Pradesh organizer, Naveen Sudan, it was resolved by the members to observe complete bandh in support of the demand to establish AIIMS In Jammu. Mr Sudan said that Bajrang Dal strongly condemns the decision of shifting AIIMS from Jammu to Kashmir region. He said that people of Jammu had waged long agitation for Central University and two CUs were given in the State. The Government should also give AIIMS to both the regions.
Pradesh Congress Committee has urged upon the people to support bandh call tomorrow on the issue of AIIMS for Jammu region.
In statement, PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma has appealed the people from all sections of society to observe complete bandh on Friday to lodge protest over denial of AIIMS to Jammu region by the present Government at the Centre. The call for bandh has been given after the Central and State Governments failed to respond to the peaceful protests by Congress and other people from the last one and half month.
NPP and its youth wing, have already announced call for Jammu bandh on Friday. Chairman of the party Harshdev Singh (former Minister), Balwant Singh Mankotia (Ex-MLA) have issued appeal to the people in general and students in particular to observe complete peaceful bandh in Jammu against Government’s discriminatory decision. State unit of Janata Dal Secular has also fully supported the Jammu cause.
Meanwhile, Jammu Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Y V Sharma ( Ex-CCI president) has said that Government is putting the masses into trouble by not responding to the repeated demand of the Jammu people. He appealed the Government to take clear stand in the interest of the common masses to a feeling of the good governance and see the things implemented instead of hollow sloganeering.
J&K Sikh Societies Amalgamate, an apex body of several Sikh bodies have fully supported the Jammu bandh on April 24. The members in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Gurdeep Singh Sasan appealed the people to observe complete bandh on Friday in support of demand of setting up AIIMs in Jammu.
Hindustan Shiv Sena, State unit led by Vikram Kapoor, representatives of Jammu Development Council, All Jammu Hotel and Lodges Association, Jammu Prayan Vikas Mandal, Jammu General Bus Stand Traders Association, JK Youth Sharnarthi Action Committee, Jammu Province Peoples’ Forum, All J&K People Progressive Front, Panthic Morcha, Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, Aam Admi Ka Jantantrik Morcha, All J&K Sikh Progressive front, Bhai Kanheya Ji Nishkam Seva Society, Jammu and Kashmir Ladakh Sudhar Forum and Arakshan Virodi Manch have also fully supported Jammu bandh on Friday.
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