'Naeem's statement on AIIMS hailed'

AIIMS Coordination Committee chairman Abhinav Sharma has welcomed education minister Naeem Akhter's statement that Jammu equally needs AIIMS like Kashmir.

AIIMS Coordination Committee chairman Abhinav Sharma has welcomed education minister Naeem Akhter's statement that Jammu equally needs AIIMS like Kashmir.

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"This is a welcome statement from the government that has extended healthy support to our cause. While the deputy chief minister has given us written document to bring AIIMS in Jammu, Naeem's call for AIIMS in Jammu has given more thrust to Jammu's demand," said Sharma.

Education minister Naeem Akhter has endorsed the demand for setting up All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu.

"The PDP fully supports the demand for separate AIIMS in Jammu since J&K is a particular state which needs two such institutes; one in Kashmir and another in Jammu as each region has its own needs," he had said while addressing a private function on Sunday.

However, Sharma said that the three-day bandh from July 31 will start if an 'appropriate order' on AIIMS does not reach the Coordination Committee.

"Though it is a supporting gesture from the government on AIIMS for Jammu, we are committed for three-day Jammu bandh, starting July 31, if the government fails to deliver justice," he said.

"The BJP leadership has befooled the people of Jammu, they had given us written assurance that they would get an appropriate order from the central government to establish AIIMS in Jammu on or by July 20, but they failed to fulfil their commitment," said Sharma.