AAA Jammu holds protest to highlight grievances of artists

The members of All Artists Association holding protest in Jammu on Tuesday. –Excelsior/Rakesh
The members of All Artists Association holding protest in Jammu on Tuesday. –Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 2: On the countrywide protest call given by ‘Sunay Saaz Sunay Sarkar’ to raise issues of artists sitting idle due to lockdown, All Artists Association (AAA), Jammu today held massive protest demonstration in support of burning demands of artists of Jammu Division in the premises of Cultural Academy, here today.
While addressing the protest demonstration, various speakers from artists’ fraternity expressed grave concern over the miserable plight of artists who have been deprived of their work owning to shutting of all cultural events following constant lockdown.
They said that due to this reason their livelihood has been snatched, adding that there was no likelihood of resumption of cultural activities in the coming months also and the lives of artists and their families were going to be from bad to worst.
The artists invited the attention of the Lieutenant Governor of J&K UT and fervently appealed that financial help to the artists of the Union Territory on monthly basis might be provided to make both ends meet.
They demanded that as there was no hope of any work for the artists given the challenging situation and precarious circumstance emerged out of Covid -19 crisis  which primarily demands strict social distancing for pretty long period, artists above the age of 60 years age and below the age of 60 years may be provided Rs 10,000 and Rs 6, 000 respectively per month to tide over the financial crisis.
The protest demonstration was attending by many artists including Surinder Manhas, Rakesh Anand, Tilak Raj Tagotra, Marwari Lal, Rampal, JR Sharma, Ravinder Sharma, Sohit Soofi, Kartik, Deepak, Salim, Abhisek and Rahul.