SRINAGAR: CPI(M) leader & former MLA M Yousuf Tarigami on Monday led a protest demonstration in Srinagar against the "privatization" of electricity, Railways and public transport.

The protestors, led by the CPI(M) leader, with banners assembled near the Press Enclave on Residency road by shouting slogans against the authorities for privatization of electricity, railways, PSEs, Public transport and installation of Smart meters to the households.

The protestors alleged that such moves will only compound and aggravate problems already faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to media persons, Tarigami said the privatization of public transport will have a direct effect on the pockets of the common people by increasing their fare.

He alleged that the Government of India is also selling railways to private companies which is not acceptable to us.

“A bill to privatize the electricity department has also been introduced in the Parliament and if that has been implemented it will have a direct effect on Kashmir water resources which are producing the electricity”, the CPI(M) leader said.

The former MLA also alleged that smart meters have been installed without providing electricity to the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tarigami said electricity is being produced by the water resources of J&K and demanded that it should be provided to the People of Jammu and Kashmir on priority basis.

He also demanded that by installing Smart meters, the authorities putting an extra burden on the people of J&K should be withdrawn.

Tarigami said “that the central government snatched all our rights by turning a state into the Union Territory”, adding “Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the parliament that J&K will be restored with a state status but these people here celebrate how the crown of J&K was removed recently”.

The CPI-M leader said that the authorities issued an order recently that no government employee can participate in protest strikes which even during the British rule was not done. He said this is being done only to scare the employees.

He said even during British rule, employees were protesting for genuine demands.

Tarigami said that several committees were established but were not able to take any decision about the casual labourers and daily wagers so far in Jammu and Kashmir. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah led opposition parties will stage an anti-government ‘peaceful’ protest on October 10 in Jammu.

“The current situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in the meeting of opposition parties and it has been decided that a ‘peaceful’ protest will be held against the government on October 10,” Abdullah told reporters after convening the all parties meeting here.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Congress J&K president Vikar Rasool Wani, Congress leader Raman Bhalla, CPI (M) leader MY Tarigami and other opposition parties leaders attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abdullah said, “the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir was discussed threadbare in the meeting.”
“The present situation in Jammu and Kashmir is worrisome,” said Abdullah, alleging that the Constitution has been suspended in Jammu and Kashmir and democratic rights are under attack.

“Lieutenant Governor, Home Minister, PM Modi repeatedly say that everything is normal in Jammu and Kashmir, then why elections are not being conducted. Why elections are not being conducted even after delimitation and preparation of fresh voter list,” said Abdullah.

J&K Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani said that BJP promised to make Jammu and Kashmir number one in the country, but after four years, Jammu and Kashmir has topped in corruption and unemployment.

“The recent terrorist attacks have also exposed the party's claim of peace,” said Wani.

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Awami Tehreek (JKAT) held a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar New Delhi on Saturday, pitching for the release of religious leaders, Journalists and political workers.

The protest was led by Chairman JKAT Waqar H. Bhatti. Civil Society member and track 2 diplomat OP Shaw was also part of the protest.

The protesters staged a silent dharna carrying placards which read: ‘we demand fair and fast trial for all the detained journalists of J&K’, ‘growing drug addiction cases are biggest threat to our young generation-wake up save J&K, ‘If everything is stable and changed after 5 August 2019, then also scrap the draconian laws PSA, UAPA, AFSPA,’ ‘we demand ban on all newly opened wine shops in J&K,’ ‘peoples will and wishes matter, my fundamental, my democratic rights are everything for me,’ ‘public elected representatives have only right to frame public policies,’  and ‘free all religious preachers of Jammu and Kashmir, restore their religious activities.”

The protest culminated peacefully, the party said. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: Normal life was affected as protests were held on Saturday on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and parts of Jammu region observed shutdown against the installation of Smart Meters and removal of Toll Post at Sarore in Samba district.

The day-long shutdown call was announced by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu and was supported by various political, religious and social organisations barring the Bhartiya Janata Party.
The protestors also demanded immediate ‘unconditional’ release of detained activists of Yuva Rajput Sabha spearheading the agitation demanding removal of Toll Plaza in view of poor road condition and damaged Tarnah Nullah bridge in Dayalachak on Jammu-Pathankot national highway.
Supporting the Jammu Bandh, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference termed it as completely successful and said that anguished by the anti-people policies adopted by Union Government’s proxy governmentt in J&K the people are anxiously waiting for the elections to teach the Saffron party a lesson.

National Conference Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta stated that the incumbent BJP Governmentt at the Centre and the J&K UT Administration have crossed all limits in going ahead with atrocious anti-people policies.

He said that people are fed up with this unacceptable approach and attitude of the Administration and added that people of J&K will no longer tolerate such policies and approaches.

Various markets in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and Samba wore a deserted look except the shops of dairy products and medicines which were open.

The transporters are also likely to announce ‘chakak jam’ on August 31 in support of the demands and release of YRS leaders.

A group of YRS members were also detained for blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Udhampur town.
On Friday, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar along with Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh addressing a press conference clarified the reasons for occasional high bills stating that any discrepancies in bills were due to past pending amounts and assured that the new system’s bill cycle has been rectified.
He also assured people about the efficiency of smart meters, while listing the steps taken by the administration to dispel the doubts of consumers regarding the accuracy of power consumption readings.

Meanwhile Singh said the YRS activists were detained for “breach of peace” and will be released only if any “prominent person” guarantees on their behalf that they would not repeat such an offence.

President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, Arun Gupta in a statement expressed thanks to all the organizations including J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu and the business community from all over Jammu Province for their wholehearted and overwhelming support to Jammu Bandh by keeping their business establishments closed on the call of CCI, thus supporting the cause of Jammu.

Gupta said that the traders body believes in open dialogue with all the stakeholders but in view of the adamant approach of UT Administration J&K, after discussions with different Associations and in consultation with J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, a one-day Jammu Bandh was organized to press the government to understand the gravity of the situation and wake up from the deep slumber and take proactive approach to address the pressing genuine issues of halting installation of smart meters and prepaid meters and suspension of Toll Plaza at Sarore as these issues are of paramount importance. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu on Thursday gave a one-day call for Jammu shutdown against smart meters installation and continuation of Sarore Toll Post on Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

“During a meeting with various market and trade associations, we have announced one day Jammu Bandh on Saturday (August 26),” the CCI president Arun Gupta here told reporters.

He said that during the meeting the issues regarding Installation of Smart Meters by PDD and subsequently switching over to pre-paid system of billing and Toll Plaza at Sarore were discussed.

Gupta said that the members were apprised that the issues were already taken up with the concerned authorities.

“We voiced that installation of smart meters should be stopped immediately as the digital meters were functioning properly and smoothly,” he said adding that regarding the toll plaza the issue is highlighted and till the damaged bridge of Taranah Nallah on National Highway is completely restored and the damaged roads are repaired and made fully operational, the toll tax collection be kept in abeyance.

“We had also requested the Lieutenant Governor to give appointment to discuss these issues,” he added and said that the members expressed their anger over the installation of Smart Meters and functioning at Toll Plaza at Sarore and were of the opinion that ‘Jammu Bandh’ is the only solution to get the demands issues resolved.

The members with one voice extended full support to Jammu Bandh, he added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The locals from Budgam Thursday staged a massive protest against the installation of Smart Meters.

The protesters particularly women blocked the traffic and stopped Power Development Department from installing the meters.

While reacting over the installation of Smart Meters, former Cabinet Minister and three-times legislator from Central Kashmir’s Budgam Ruhullah Mehdi said that this administration believes in ‘coercion and intimidation’ and has been imposed on the people of Valley.

Ruhullah Mehdi was reacting after the locals from Haknipora village of Budgam blocked the road and staged a protest against the installation of Smart Meters.

“These things (installation of Smart Meters) can’t be imposed. These are peoples’ decisions and their involvement is inevitable. The current administration believes in force,” he said.

Ruhullah Mehdi as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust said that the installation of Smart Meters is a welcome step but the economic condition of the people should be improved. “Since the 2014 floods, the economy collapsed in Kashmir. Let the administration improve the economic condition of the people and then install the Smart Meters,” he said.

He added that the administration is hell-bent to get the Meters installed as it is not the peoples’ administration but the one that has been imposed on the masses and believes in force. “This village (Haknipora) is a poverty-ridden village. The basic aim of the state was the social welfare and if you really want people to grow then it is important to make them socially and economically vibrant,” he said.

In response to a question, Ruhullah Mehdi said that it is a futile exercise to talk to the local administration and still he wants to convey to them not to force mothers and sisters to hit to roads. “Improve their economic conditions and then install the Smart Meters,” Ruhullah Mehdi said. [KNT] 

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday said J&K government has declined them the permission to hold a seminar or a discussion on the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on Saturday.

PDP Media Coordinator Bashir Ahmed Beigh said they had sought permission from district administration, Srinagar to hold a seminar/discussion on August 5, with regards to the viewpoint of genaral public on abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A.

“Our representative was told at around 5 PM today that the sought permission is declined without assigning any reason,” Beigh saod.

The party said that by denying permission to the party and allowing BJP to hold an event at a Srinagar park shows the “dual and dubious approach” of administration.

“An event at Jawahar Nagar Park followed by a rally to celebrate abrogation of Article 370 & 35 A from Nehru Park to SKICC has been allowed for which Bhartiya Janta Party had sought permission.

The dual and dubious approach of administration is strongly condemned by us and this repeatedly vindicates our stand that the administration and country both are run not as per rules or constitution but by the political agenda set by BJP,” the PDP Media Coordinator said. 

On Thursday, PDP had invited “like-minded” parties to join a public rally on August 5 at Sher-e-Kashmir Park Srinagar on the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 .
Meanwhile, the BJP on Friday alleged that Pakistan and it's handlers have assigned the job to it's miniscule supporters here to hit streets in protest against the Abrogation of Article 370

“As the fourth anniversary of Article 370 approaches, Pakistan and it's handlers have assigned the job to it's miniscule supporters to hit streets in protest against the Abrogation of Article 370, but to convey them, that best way to offer obituary is to sit at home and offer fatiha to something that stands buried forever,” BJP JK spokesman, Altaf Thakur said in a statement.

He claimed that J&K is witnessing peace and there was no room for any disturbance.

The BJP is holding a rally at Municipal park in Jawahar Nagar here and later a marathon run is being organized from Nehru park to Royal Spring Golf Course to celebrate abrogation of Article 370.

On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government revoked Article 370 of the constitution that bestowed special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the erstwhile state was downgraded into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Wednesday commenced hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370. (UNI)

: Electricity was snapped in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar city after locals staged a protest against the installation of Smart Meters on Tuesday morning.

Local sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a large number of locals from Ziyarat Batamaloo Sahab hit to roads and stopped KPDCL men from getting the Smart Meters installed in the area.

As a reaction, the electricity as per the locals was snapped and they are without the power supply since morning.

One of the locals said that the electricity was snapped shortly after the protest.

Consumers in Srinagar city are up in arms against the Kashmir Power Distribution Company Limited. Everywhere in Srinagar city, the installation of Smart Meters have triggered protests, however, authorities are unmoved and continue to install the Smart Meters.

"People are ready to pay a fixed amount on monthly basis and can’t afford the fatty bills generated by these Smart Meters. Nobody is here to listen to us,” said a female protester adding they can’t afford fatty bills.

The protesters who blocked traffic near the bus stand in Batamaloo said that the government is seeking pleasure in sucking the blood of poverty-ridden people. “There should be an objective and balanced approach. Affluent ones should be charged on the basis of Smart meters but those living below the poverty line should be exempted. This is a vicious form of social discrimination,” they said. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: Dozens of KPDCL Dailywagers staged a protest demonstration Thursday here, expressing frustration against Electric Division Sumbal for failing to timely process their seniority files. 

The President of the KPDCL Dailywagers Association, Abdul Hamid Wagay told GNS that their seniority files have been pending in the office of the Executive Engineer Sumbal for many months now. "Despite fulfilling all the necessary formalities and making repeated visits to the Division office, their files have not been sent to the concerned circle office", he alleged. 

“This delay in processing of seniority files has resulted in immense hardships for the dailywagers and their families, with a chunk facing the threat of imminent starvation,” he said.

During the demonstration, the protesters urged the relevant authorities to give serious consideration to their demands and promptly address them. 

They warned that if their demands are not met in a timely manner, they would proceed with an indefinite strike. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Apni Party Monday held a protest against a host of issues being faced by people including price rise, installation of smart meters, and curtailment in ration quota.

Apni Party workers and several leaders assembled outside the party headquarters at Church Lane Srinagar. Police however didn’t allow them to proceed towards the road and detained some workers and leaders.

The party said that the protest had been planned against the administration’s failure to provide essential commodities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the police arrested several party leaders and workers including the party’s district president Srinagar, Noor Muhammad Sheikh.

The demonstrators carried placards demanding the availability of rations on the Ghats, uninterrupted power service, and sufficient potable water for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

After police locked the main gate of the party headquarters in an attempt to contain the protesting leaders and workers, the demonstrators persisted with their protest inside the office premises. They raised slogans denouncing the administration’s failure and expressing their discontent. [KNT]