SRINAGAR: Massive protest demonstrations were held in the Jammu region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) against the Indian government’s unjust and anti-people policies.
The activists of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference organized a protest at Mankote in Mendhar Sub Division, demanding the restoration of democracy in the occupied region and a probe into the embezzlement of funds in the valley, according to Kashmir Media Service.
Led by Javed Ahmed Rana, Pir Panjal Zone president of Congress, the protesters assembled in Mankote to highlight the pressing need for revitalizing grassroots democracy in the region.
Addressing the media during the protest, Javed Rana expressed concerns over the expiry of the tenure of elected members of Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats, indicating a troubling decline in grassroots democracy.
He highlighted the lack of acceptance by the people for the continuation of the District Development Council’s system of governance.
He also raised serious concerns over the embezzlement of funds earmarked for different government schemes in the area. The schemes under scrutiny include those administered by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Tribal Sub Plan funds, District Plans, and State Plans.
Protest against multi-fold hike in power bills
Protesting against the multi-fold increase in power bills, the residents of Arigatoo village, located on the foothills of the Pir Panjal mountain range, called for the rollback of additional power tariffs.
Miffed protesters said that the area witnessed at least a 50% rise in the monthly power tariffs in recent months.
The protesters said that they had been experiencing a steep rise in the power bills for the last two years as their monthly power bills had jumped from 350 to a staggering 1300 rupees.
