JAMMU, Sep 06:Apni Party today held a strong protest demonstration here at Gandhi Nagar against the installation of smart and pre-paid meters in Jammu that has overburdened the pockets of the general masses.
The protest was led by Apni Party Provincial President of Women Wing, Pavneet Kour that started from Gandhi Nagar’s Gole Market and culminated in front of Gurudwara sahab in the area.
The protesting Apni Party were shouting slogans against the Govt, and two MPs representing the Jammu region in the Lok Sabha for their failure to represent the aspirations of the people.
While passing through the area from Gole Market to Gurudwara area in Gandhi Nagar, the Apni Party leaders were carrying placards against the smart meters that are being installed despite strong opposition of the people in Jammu.
“The administration with the police have tried to impose the unilateral decision even after knowing that the number of complaints against them have inflated electricity bills. However, the administration is adamant to impose the smart meters against the will of the consumers,” said Pavneet Kour while condemning the move.
Kour said that the Govt has taken a non-serious approach towards the concerns of the people, and this has given to the feeling of alienation, and an attempt was made to crush the voice of the people who object to the installation of smart meters and pre - paid meters.
She also expressed concern over the stoppage of the ration at the Govt depots and demanded that the CAPD department must ensure adequate ration to be supplied to the ration depots across Jammu and Kashmir.
She also demanded that the old age pension should be restored in favour of the pensioners so that they could provide financial aid to the ailing persons.
She said that if the Govt failed to get the issues redressed, the people will give their answer by exercising their votes in the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Provincial President Youth Wing, Jammu, Vipul Bali expressed grave concern over the growing unemployment among the educated youth, and drug addiction that has given birth to the numbers of criminal activities.
“The crime rate in Jammu has increased following the rise in unemployment among the educated youth. These educated youth, when failing to get employment at a defined age, allegedly indulge in drug addiction that has given rise to the mental illness, and anti-social activities,” he added.
Therefore, the present Govt should not indulge in diverting attention of the people from the actual ground situation, but act to address the public grievances.
“The smart meters have multiplied the problem for the people who earn their livelihood daily, and they are unable to pay their electricity bills. The people are unable to understand if they pay the electricity charges, school fees, bring ration on inflated rates or by other essential committees to run their house,” he said.
He said that the Govt should come out with a solution instead of justifying the installation of smart meters that has given additional load on the pockets of the people. Meanwhile, the protest demonstration dispersed peacefully.
Prominent among those who were part of the protest include State President SC Wing, Bodh Raj Bhagat, Provincial Vice President Transport Union, Devinder Singh Gill, General Secretary Transport Union, Yash Choudhry, Senior District Vice President Jammu Urban, Vaibhav Mattoo, District President Women Wing, Jammu, Ritu Pandita, Provincial Secretary, Vishal Jotshi, District Senior Vice President, Sandeep Vaid, District Vice President Youth, Abinav Gupta , Sheetal Sharma, and others.
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