Police thwart protesters from proceeding
Srinagar, February 27 (KNS): Apni Party leaders and senior workers on Thursday held protest demonstrations against the ongoing power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. However, police forcefully stopped the protesters to proceed from the party headquarters towards Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
On this occasion, the protesters, led by Apni Party’s Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, raised slogans against the government and the power department for their failure to end the power crisis. They condemned the frequently interrupted power supply, the steep hike in tariffs, and disconnections for non-payment, which disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized communities.
Holding placards in their hands, the protesters demanded an uninterrupted power supply during the holy month of Ramzan and the immediate reconnection of electricity for those whose power had been cut off due to unpaid bills. They also called for an extension of the amnesty beyond March 2025. The protesters urged the government to reduce power tariffs to provide some relief to the general public, who are already grappling with an economic crisis.
Speaking to the reporters, Mohammad Ashraf Mir urged the government to make sure that people do not suffer due to the frequently interrupted power supply in the holy month of Ramzan.
He said, “In the upcoming holy month, we expect the government to ensure an uninterrupted power supply so that religious obligations are not hindered.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIn view of Ramzan, we also demand that the government ensure immediate power reconnections for those whose connections have been cut off due to unpaid bills. In fact, we demand that the amnesty be extended beyond March 2025 to provide some relief to the people.”
“Given the poor economic conditions of the people, who are grappling with issues like rising unemployment and skyrocketing inflation, the power tariff must be reduced,” Mir added.
The prominent party leaders and senior workers who were protesting included Chief Spokesperson, State Secretary, District President Budgam Muntazir Mohi-Ud-Din, Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat, Women's Wing President Dilshad Shaheen, Coordinator Kashmir Province & DDC Vice Chairman Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Provincial Coordinator Kashmir Javaid Ahmad Mir, Spokesperson & Working State President Youth Wing Khalid Rathore, General Secretary ST Wing Khalid Badhana, Provincial President ST Wing Rafiq Balote, Spokesperson Muzaffar Reshi, District President Srinagar Mohammad Shafi Mir, Constituency Incharge Central Shalteng Zaffar Habib Dar, Constituency Incharge Habba Kadal Jeelani Kumar, Incharge Constituency Khanyar Mohsin Zaffar Shah, Constituency Incharge Pampore Mohammad Altaf Mir, Party leader Muzamil Rizvi, party leader Shoaib Dar, party leader Tanveer Hussain Pathan, Party leader Mohammad Ashraf Dar, President office Incharge Tawseef Bashir and all ward Presidents and office bearers.(KNS)