Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 17: Congress activists and general people from Udhampur town today held strong protest demonstration against National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), for sharp hike in toll tax at Ban Toll Plaza between Jammu and Katra-Udhampur recently.
Senior Congress leader and former District Youth Congress president Sumeet Magotra besides senior Congress leaders Brij Mohan Sharma, Sanjeev Dubey, Shakeel Shah and Vijay Manhas were leading the protest at Udhampur town. The activists organized protest dharna against National Highway Authority of India for over three hours.
The Congress activist were raising slogans against NHAI Ban Toll Plaza Management for their decision of increase in Toll Tax at Toll Plaza Ban, on Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar Highway. They alleged that for the last hardly two years, three times hike has been effected in toll tax at Ban which is highly unjustified and excess load on general public.
They alleged that State Government, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Chief Secretary and Governor’s Advisors are also least bothered over the issue. The public is being forced to pay exorbitant tax.
While addressing a large gathering Magotra disclosed that on the one hand State Governor has announced that State Government will reduce the Toll Tax in Kashmir Division and also planning to abolish Toll Tax from the civilians but on the other hand Toll Tax in Jammu region from Toll Plaza Ban Jammu has been increased to Rs 200 just for cars/jeeps etc. Magotra further expressed that we welcomed the announcement of Governor to abolish Toll Tax in Kashmir Division but why not the same announcement for Jammu region people.
Magotra criticized Government of India and Prime Minister for the discrimination with the people of Jammu Region. He asked NHAI to review its decision of increase of Toll Tax otherwise Congress activist will launch large agitation against Government. He said the people from Udhampur and adjoinijg villages will march to Toll Plaza Ban and sit on one dharna by blocking National Highway. He said they will also conduct `gherao’ of BJP leaders for their silence over the issue.
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