Cong protests against price hike, power crisis

Police foiling protest march of Congress activists towards Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Police foiling protest march of Congress activists towards Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Wednesday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 7: The Congress activists today staged a massive protest march against the Central Govt at Shaheedi Chowk Jammu to oppose the incessant hike in prices of petrol, diesel, LPG and essential commodities, irregular power and water supply in J&K and to seek restoration of statehood to J&K.
Senior Congress leaders of JKPCC including those from District Congress Committee Jammu (Urban),  Blocks, Corporators and Frontal wings participated in the protest and they marched towards Raj Bhawan. Their march, however, was foiled by a heavy contingent of police, forcing protestors to hold a strong demonstration on Residency Road.
Senior Congress leaders including former minister and PCC vice president Raman Bhalla, former minister and PCC general secretary Yogesh Sawhney ( In-charge District President Jammu-U), PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Kanta Bhan (vice president) and others led the protestors comprising PCC, DCC and Block functionaries besides Corporators as well.  Click here to watch video
A heavy contingent of policemen led by senior police’officers were deputed to stop the protesters, who were holding placards and raising slogans against the Modi Government for their total failure to keep the prices of all the essential commodities under control, facilitating inflation and looting the people through heavy taxes. They raised a strong protest against huge taxes levied on all essential commodities including eatables, petroleum products leading to acute problems to the common man and the poor.
The protesters demanded regular power and water supply for all areas in Jammu city. They further sought restoration of statehood and said that elections and delimitation are meaningless until complete restoration of statehood as the Assembly of UT will have no real powers to address the grievances of the people. They demanded that restoration of statehood should not be linked to delimitation or election and should be immediately restored.
The protest marked the beginning of the Congress party’s nationwide agitational programme as per the direction of AICC which will last from July 7 to July 17. As part of the nationwide protest, Congress party in Jammu raised protest to highlight issues of the country as well as additional issues of Jammu. Various major issues will be raised by the Congress party during this series of protests and demonstrations in the coming days.
Speaking at the protest, Raman Bhalla highlighted the local issues that have been troubling the people of Jammu city especially issue of erratic power and water supply in cities across J&K. Jammu city for the last few months is facing the worst ever unscheduled power cuts despite rising mercury levels. Various areas of Jammu city are suffering from acute shortage of drinking water. He said people are completely disappointed by the UT Government.