Controversy over the setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kashmir returned to haunt BJP as Shiv Sena and Dogra Front activists carried out gherao of the State Legislative Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta here on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh had sought a month's time to persuade the Centre to set up the institute at Jammu. The date has now expired. Gupta, who was returning to airport after attending a function at Government Women College in Parade Ground, was stopped by Shiv Sena and Dogra Front activists near the RRL Laboratory on Canal Road. As he came out of his vehicle, the activists gheraoed him and raised slogans demanding setting up of AIIMS at Jammu. The gherao continued for nearly half-an-hour and he was allowed to go only after he said that a decision in the matter has been taken at top level at the Centre and a formal announcement was expected within 15 days. The Speaker also assured that he, if needed, will also take a delegation of prominent people of Jammu to Delhi to persuade Centre make an announcement at the earliest. The protestors were led by Shiv Sena leader Ashok Gupta, who said that as part of their second phase of agitation Sena and Dogra Front leaders will gherao all those BJP legislators, MPs and ministers who were not pursuing the Centre over the issue. Meanwhile, AIIMS coordination committee comprising representatives from an over 100 political, social, religious, trade and transport, resumed its chain hunger strike to press the demand for setting up of AIIMS in Jammu. Pointing out that Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh had last month in writing sought time till July 20 for persuading Centre make a formal announcement in the matter, chairperson of the coordination committee Abhinav Sharma accused BJP of betrayal with the people of Jammu. According to coordination committee members, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech in Parliament had announced setting up of an AIIMS in Jammu region, but the PDP-BJP government got it shifted to the Valley. However, according to PDP, as per the Agenda of Alliance finalised between it and the BJP before government formation in the state, AIIMS has been given to the Valley, while IIT and IIM will be set up in Jammu. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister here sought some more time in the matter, saying that it needed time to rectify the wrongs done by successive National Conference and Congress governments during the past six decades.
