Some residents of this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir will organise a function parallel to the government-held Independence Day celebrations Saturday, to press their demand for a central university in the Jammu region.

The parallel function will be held at the Jammu University campus.

“This is our firm decision as the government has failed to come out with any written commitment that the central university would be set up in Jammu in the near future,” Central University Samiti (CUAS) spokesperson Sunil Sethi said.

"Jammu shutdown and peaceful protests have failed to draw the attention of the government. The parallel I-Day function is our next step and thereafter a future strategy would be chalked out," he said.

The CUAS also urged people not to attend the official function at Parade ground.

Last year, the Amarnath Yatra Sangrash Samiti, agitating for the restoration of 100 acres of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board which manages the Himalayan cave shrine devoted to Lord Shiva, had held a separate I-Day function, attended by thousands of locals.