JAMMU: The 91 organisations-backed AIIMS Coordination Committee Bandh call on Wednesday remained total in the region but the worst affected were the tourists and Vaishno Devi pilgrims who came from outside the state and were stuck-up at bus stand and railway station with no transport facilities available for them. The surprising element was some of the foreign tourists probably must have got the first time experience of a Bandh were seen going around the city and main market in a joyful mood in the scorching heat. Most of the city markets wore a deserted look. Even some of the markets did not open even in the evening. Hospitals too experienced a low turnout of patients.
In this regard, All Party Co-ordination Committee under the chairmanship of its Chairman and President JKHCBA, Abhinav Sharma took out a protest demonstration in the Jammu city. The procession was taken out from the High Court complex communicating its strong resentment of the people from Jammu province and followed by a strong message seeking reversal of the decision on shifting AIIMS from Jammu to Kashmir.
Abhinav Sharma, Chairman Co-ordination Committee reiterated his demand to the elected members from Jammu province in the government formation to make public statement with regard to their stand on AIIMS, which is the cause and genuine demand of the masses from Jammu province. Further action of the co-ordination committee shall be decided in the next meeting to be scheduled shortly.
For ensuring the complete shutdown in Jammu on Wednesday, coinciding with the visit of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Jammu, hundreds of Panthers Party activists assembled outside the Press Club Jammu and staged a massive protest against the BJP partnered Coalition Government.
Led by Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and Yashpal Kundal State President Young Panthers, the activists took out an impressive march exhorting the people to observe complete Jammu Bandh for the restoration of AIIMS amid unprecedented deployment of security personnel in the heart of the Jammu City. The indignant protestors waved ‘Black Flags’ expressing their resentment over the inauspicious visit of the Union Home Minister when the entire Jammu region was burning with extreme anger and outrage triggered by BJP’s pusillanimous surrender of Jammu’s interests and aspirations before the PDP for the lust of power.
Meanwhile, Varinder Thakur President NPSU and Purshotam Parihar Secretary Panthers Trade Union were arrested by the police and detained in the Nowabad Police Station. Later, they were released in the evening after the Panthers Party activists Gheraoed the Police Station.
Lambasting the highly obnoxious move of the Coalition Government to transfer the prestigious 1,600 crore AIIMS project to Kashmir in dissonance to the initial announcement of the Union Government to establish the premier health institute in Jammu region, Harsh flayed the BJP’s sinister clandestine surrender of the long cherished dream of the people of Jammu to the leaders of the Valley. He said that the servile and sycophantic posturing of the Saffron Party has hit the soul of Jammu Pradesh like a sudden ‘thunderbolt’ descending from the blue and it is openly evident now that the Saffron Party which had received an overwhelming mandate from the people of Jammu region in the recently held Assembly elections has brazenly retreated from all its grandiloquent promises made to the electorate besides timidly conceding AIIMS to its coalition partner just for playing a second fiddle in the PDP led government. Harsh maintained that the Panthers Party shall continue its crusade against the anti-Jammu policies of the unholy coalition dispensation and fight tooth and nail for any kind of discrimination doled out to the region. He made a fervent appeal to the public to join the movement for the restoration of the premier health edifice to Jammu.
Yashpal Kundal, while addressing the protesters, disclosed that the Bandh call for Jammu has been simultaneously observed in all the districts of Jammu Province including Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Rajouri. Gagan Pratap Singh Spokesman Young Panthers while appealing to the people for observing peaceful Jammu Bandh, fervently asked them to follow and support the dogma of Panthers Party which is the only regional party of Jammu Pradesh.
Later, in the afternoon a gigantic cavalcade comprising more than 50 vehicles with party flags fluttering and scores of JKNPP activists spearheaded by Harsh Dev and Yashpal Kundal standing atop ‘Open van’ passed through several outskirts, markets and lanes of Jammu city expressing their sincere gratitude by waving to the strong public of Jammu for making the Bandh extremely successful in a peaceful manner. The rally finally culminated at the party Headquarters whereas Harsh urged party workers to propagate the mission of the Panthers Party at all District, Tehsil and Block levels besides bracing up to take the issue of AIIMS to its logical conclusion.
Others who joined the protest include Bansi Lal Sharma, Sham Gorkha, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, Ashok Randhawa, Ravinder Billoweria, Gagan Pratap Singh, Balbir Singh, Rajesh Pargotra, Mohinder Pal Singh Pandu, Advocate Vilakshan Singh, Sarpanch Khajur Singh, Jagdev Singh, Satvir Pallouria, Kailash Mohan, Neeraj Gupta, Purshottam Singh, Anil Rakwal, Asha Rani, Ravinder Singh, Rajesh Gondhi and Balwan Singh.
Pradesh Congress Committee has expressed gratitude to the people for observing complete Bandh today over the policies of Centre and State Government regarding setup of AIIMS and artificial lake project in Jammu and asked the BJP Government at the Centre and Coalition State Government not to take the people for a ride.
Reacting to the complete Bandh in Jammu on the call of AIIMS Coordination Committee which had the full support of Congress and other likeminded social and other organisations, JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that today’s voluntary and complete Bandh, which is second on the issue of AIIMS besides treatment of the present state and central governments towards issues of people of this region reflects the anger of the people towards the policies of the central and state governments.
Sharma said that the statements of the leaders of the present coalition reflected their arrogance to the genuine and justified demands of the people of Jammu region and they not only ignored the genuine aspirations but add insult by their contradictory and illogical statements on various issues, especially on the issue of AIIMS.
The activists of Jammu West Assembly Movement led by its President Sunil Dimple staged a protest in support of Jammu Bandh against the State Coalition Government for not clearing its stand on setting up of separate AIIMS in Jammu.
The activists assembled in New Plot area and burned the effigy of State Coalition Government.
Addressing the protesters, Dimple urged upon the Home Minister Rajnath Singh to convey the message of the Jammu region people to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that due to wrong decisions of BJP in alliance with PDP, the Jammu region has out rightly rejected the BJP.
Dimple said, “We will continue the agitation for opening of AIIMS in Jammu region, till the official order from the Union Health Ministry and PMO Office is not received and the foundation stone of the AIIMS is not laid down.”
Dimple appealed to the people of Jammu region to remain united and continue their struggle for the rights of the Jammu region.
Those who joined the protest include Dr Sham Saroop, Vinod Suri, Harbans Tondon, Ram Kapoor, Ravinder Mishra, Mulkh Raj Abrol, Kulwant Sharma, Dev Raj, Sanjay Sethi, Dr O.N Pandita, Rakesh, Vipan Mukesh, Dev Raj and Raj Kumar.
Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thackrey held protest in support of Jammu Bandh and criticised the State BJP for not showing its serious concern over the issue of AIIMS.
State President Dimpy Kohli expressed anguish over the shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir which was actually sanctioned for Jammu.
Over the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley, Shiv Sena Bala Sahib Thackrey warned that KPs should be rehabilitated in Valley within 12 months.
Shiv Sena warned Mufti Government to desist from making such statements which hurt the sentiments of Jammu people.
Others who joined the protest include Vikrant Kapoor, Rakesh Gupta, Vinay Gupta, Rohit Singh Bhau, Vishal Sharma, Ankush Gupta, Vikas Patil, Parveen, Rohit Sharma, Himanshu Gupta, Tarun Singh, Amit Kumar, Rohit Sawhney, Ashok, Sonu Sharma, Pawan Kumar, Jeevan Sharma and Dinesh Mahajan.
Resenting against the shifting of AIIMS, Shri Ram Sena staged protest demanding separate AIIMS for Jammu. State President, Shri Ram Sena, Rajiv Mahajan described Jammu Bandh as an eye opener for the BJP-led Government at the Centre and the present Coalition Government especially the BJP over its betrayal with the people of Jammu region on various issues especially the setting up of AIIMS.
He said Jammuites have not tolerated discrimination at any level by any political party i.e BJP, Congress, National Conference or Peoples Democratic Party.
The activists of Congress Party led by General Secretary PCC, Namrta Sharma staged a protest and demanded AIIMS in Jammu.
She said that BJP has failed on all fronts and continuously deceiving the people of Jammu region. She lambasted BJP National and State leadership for compromising on all fronts in the State to remain in power.
She said that the Congress Party will fight for setting up of AIIMS in Jammu.
Those who joined the protest include Shub Chander Verma District General Secretary Ravinder Singh Sarpanch Simbal Camp, Rajeev Sharma, Lucky Singh, Subash Sharma, Khetri Sharma and Komal Vaid.
The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena under the leadership of President Ashok Gupta took out a procession and burned the effigies of the Coalition Government against the shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir and shelving of artificial lake project in Jammu.
“The BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu, who voted for them to end the discrimination but in the past two months it has been proven that they have abandoned the people of Jammu,” Gupta said while talking to reporters here.
“There is a complete shutdown in the entire province of Jammu today. This is against the negligence of the BJP on all issues before its coalition partner.”
The Party president said his party would launch an agitation to make sure that the people of Jammu get back their rights. “We will fight till the last drop of our blood. We are not against the setting up of AIIMS in Kashmir, but we will fight until Jammu also gets AIIMS,” he added.
Among those who joined the protest include Raj Singh, Raju, Sukhdev, Vijay, Bantu Kumar, Ashish and Vivek.
UDHAMPUR: Congress workers led by Youth Congress leader and INTUC State Secretary Sumit Magotra on Wednesday protested against the State and Central Governments for shifting AIIMS meant for Jammu to Kashmir Division and stopping the work on the artificial lake.
Meanwhile, a massive protest was held in Tikri against shifting of AIIMS under the JKNPP block President and Sarpanch Surjeet Singh Jamwal in which hundreds of women participated. They blocked the national highway for more than two hours for which the traffic on both side came to halt. Others who were present during the protest included Sarpanch Yashpal of Tikri, Om Prakash Panch, Manmohan Verma, Kulbhushan Singh, Subash Chander, Beopar Mandal Tikri, Kultar Singh, Satya Devi Panch, Sunita Rani and Deepa Verma.
SUNDERBANI: A protest was also held at Sunderbani over the issue of AIIMS.
A large number of citizens led by President Block Congress Committee Sunderbani Thakur Shamsher Singh (Sarpanch) and other prominent leaders marched from Old Bus Stand Sunderbani to revenue complex to mark their protest over denial of AIIMS to Jammu.
Those who participated in the protest include Dawarika Nath, Lok Raj Khajuria, Sarpanch K. L Sudan, Satpal Sharma, O.P Sharma, P. C Raina, Jatinder Singh Chib, Manik Raina, Pinka Prasher, Deep Sudan, Anil Khajuria and Vaishno Dass.
VIJAYPUR: Holding protest demonstration against ruling BJP, Congress party workers on Wednesday blocked Jammu Pathankot highway in Vijaypur demanding separate AIIMS for Jammu.
Led by the former Minister and Pradesh Congress general secretary, Manjit Singh, the large number of Congress workers joined by the locals protested in Vijaypur where all the transport also remained off the road in support of Bandh call.
Amid shouting slogans, the protesters blocked the highway demanding separate AIIMS for Jammu and appealed to complete artificial lake project on Tawi River.
Manjit Singh said that BJP has befooled the people with their false promises of ending discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh.
Babbal Gupta, Trith Bhagat, Sarpanch Sham Lal Bhagat, Ex, Principal Kuldeep Bhagat, Tilak Raj Sharma, Ram Lal Sharma, Mohan Lal Sharma, Ex. Sarpanch Gurjit Singh, Bachan Singh, Brij Mohan Dutta, Bharat Bushan, Sat Pal, Naib Sarpanch Sujjan Singh, youth leader Kamal Kishore, Chander Sheikhar and Vinod Choudhary were also present.