Apni Party holds protest in Vijaypur extending support to transporter’s chakka-jam

SAMBA, SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 (RNA) : Extending support to the Transporter’s chakka-jam strike against Sarore toll plaza, Apni Party leaders and workers led by Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh today staged protest here at Vijaypur against the NHAI for creating circumstances for the harassment of the commuters on Jammu-Pathankot highway at Lakhanpur as well as at Samba district. The protesters who were led by the Former Minister were shouting slogans against the NHAI authorities for failing to take a final call following repeated protests, and hunger strike against the continuous functioning of the toll plaza at Sarore and Lakhanpur. Addressing the protesters, the Former Minister expressed his anguish over the delaying practice adopted by the authorities even after knowing the sentiments of the people in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts against the existing toll plazas. “These toll plazas were established violating the set norms of highways that are implemented across the country, but violated in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, when the protesters shouted slogans against the NHAI’s apparently recent eye-wash visit to calm down the tempers. However, the talks were unfruitful since the visit of NHAI yielded no results and the authorities to showcase that everything was fine on Jammu-Pathankot highway hiding the factual situation on the ground. He demanded that the collection of toll tax at Sarore in Samba and Lakhanpur in Kathua should be stopped with immediate effect as it has sparked large scale anger among the people in both the districts because the highway is not fit for travel, and the people/pilgrims/tourists continue to face problems and it takes hours to travel on Jammu – Pathankot highway. He reminded the Apni Party had held a protest dharna at Sarore against the toll tax collection in Samba district, and accordingly, the party leaders met the Deputy Commissioner, Samba requesting to end the toll tax which is illegally being collected from the commuters. He also raised his voice against the illegal mining and involvement of non-locals in the natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir that has unemployed the locals and escalated the construction material cost. Meanwhile, he referred to the installation of the smart meters in Jammu that has caused uneasiness among the people because it is generating excessive electricity bills. “The electricity bills have put an additional burden on the pockets of the poor people. The people are getting bills in thousands and some in lakhs against the actual use of the electricity. The authorities are not listening to the people, but imposting its decision without consulting the masses in Jammu and Kashmir like an authoritarian regime,” he added. He condemned the concerns and demanded that the installation of smart meters should be stopped in public interest, and the earlier meters should continue to remain functional. Earlier, he also raised the issue of the old age pension of the people that has been stopped without citing reasons, and unnecessary harsh formalities for the pensioners. Many of the pensioners are dependent and they cannot visit the Govt offices, and banks to fulfill the formalities. “The Govt should take a review of the situation and restore the old age pension for the benefit of the pensions,” he demanded. Prominent among those who were part of the protest include Raman Thappa District President Samba, Saleem Choudhry State President ST Wing, Joginder Lal State General Secretary SC Wing, Lovely Mangool Provincial President SC Wing, Sahil Bharti District President Legal Wing, Mangat Ram District President Youth Samba, Bachan Choudhary Block President Ramgarh, Irshan Choudhry Block President Youth Baribramna, Ramneek Singh Block President Ramgarh, Saidas Social, Gurnek Singh, Bachan Singh Ex-Sarpanch.