Srinagar, June 08: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) on Thursday held a peaceful protest here and marched towards the Divisional Commissioner’s Office against the government’s decision to stop subsidized ration to the Above Poverty Line category.
The party termed the decision “anti-people and anti-friendly” and said no such decision imposed on the people of Jammu Kashmir would be acceptable.
“Those who have decided to not supply ration to the APL category should learn from the history of how the scheme was launched from the time of Maharaja’s rule. They can’t undo anything they want without understanding its repercussions on the ground,” said Taj Mohiuddin, treasurer of DPAP.
“The government can’t deprive people of food and it is the responsibility of every welfare state to ensure no one sleeps hungry. Tthe present regime is contradicting its own claims. While on one side, it glorifies the era of Maharaja and on the other hand, every welfare scheme of those times is scrapped or modified to trouble common people. “At the time of popular government, the BPL families used to get 7 kgs per head to the limit of 35 kg and the APL families were getting 13 kgs per head at landed cost. They should with the same schemes,” he said.
The protesters later marched towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner and the Provincial President Kashmir Mohammad Amin Bhatt submitted a memorandum of certain demands “in the larger interests of the people”.
Vice Chairman GM Saroori on the occasion said Jammu and Kashmir was the only state which was providing subsidized or free ration to its people and covering around 70 percent of its population. He said when the rates of essential commodities are skyrocketing, it is the duty of the government to take care of poor sections of the people and ensure all are fed before they go to bed.
Among others present on the occasion were Chief Spokesperson Salman Nizami, Zonal President Gulzar Ahmed Wani, and others.
