Srinagar, June 26(KNS): Continuing its series of district-level protests across the Valley, Apni Party held protest rallies, on Monday, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara and the southern districts of Anantnag and Shopian.
These rallies were organised with the aim of registering a strong protest against the administrative failure to provide an adequate supply of rations and other essential commodities, as well as uninterrupted power and drinking water supply, to the consumers.
According to a party statement issued here, the party district president of Kupwara, Raja Manzoor, led a procession in Kupwara town. The procession was joined by all district leaders and workers of the party, as well as local residents.
On this occasion, Raja Manzoor, while talking to the reporters, said, "The people are facing immense hardships and inconveniences as they receive meagre rations at the Ghats. Moreover, frequent power outages and severe shortages of clean drinking water persist in many areas. Despite our persistent demands for an adequate supply of these essential commodities, the concerned officials have shown a disregard for the legitimate demands of the public."
In Anantnag, party district president Abdul Rahim Rather let the protest rally The participants included district level party leaders and workers, as well as local residents.
The participants of the rally carried placards bearing slogans that criticise the government’s inability to provide basic amenities to the people.
On this occasion, Rather said, "People across the Anantnag district are grappling with the problems caused by the decrease in the ration quota. The ration has been reduced by over 50% following the withdrawal of the Jammu and Kashmir Food Entitlement Scheme (JKFES) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY), which has left the consumers highly distressed. Rice is the staple diet of the people in the Valley, and its shortage has caused starvation for most of the population, especially the poor; hence, it needs to restore the supplies as per the earlier given quota to alleviate their plight."
He further said, "The frequent power supply curtailments, in these summer days, are causing tremendous hardships to the people. Also, the power charges have been increased beyond any justification. This has further pushed people into misery."
Meanwhile, in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, the general secretary of the party’s youth wing, and Vice Chairman of DDC Shopian, Irfan Manhas, led a protest demonstration, demanding an ample amount of food supplies and an uninterrupted power supply for the residents. He expressed his discontent with the administration's failure to provide essential commodities to the people. He said, "The people are currently facing numerous hardships and inconveniences as a result of the unavailability of rations, frequent power outages, inadequate water supply to several areas, and various other deficiencies. These issues have significantly impacted the lives of people and caused difficulties for them."
Manhas made an appeal to the LG administration, urging it to take the necessary measures to ensure a sufficient power supply and an adequate ration quota for consumers. He emphasised the need for immediate redressal for pressing public issues and grievances.(KNS).