Doda, June 19: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) on Monday staged a “massive” protest rally in Doda demanding immediate compensation to victims of earthquakes in Chenab Valley, especially Doda and Kishtwar, and sought government intervention in conducting of a survey by seismologists to gauge the reasons behind occurrences of continuous tremors in the region.
Holding placards and banners, DPAP’s senior leadership including vice president G M Saroori, Naresh Gupta provincial vice president, chief spokesperson Salman Nizami, and other party leaders and workers marched in Doda. They staged protests against the stopping of free ration distribution to the poor, reduction of monthly ration quota to consumers and imposition of property tax.
Addressing the protesters, Saroori slammed the government for not providing any compensation to the recent earthquake victims in Doda or Kishtwar districts. Salman Nizami sought the establishment of a committee of seismologists and scientists to undertake an immediate scientific study on the recurrences of tremors in the Chenab Valley.
The DPAP workers observed that stopping free ration to the poor would lead to starvation of the people while the reduction in the monthly quota of ration to consumers in rice-consumed J&K is unacceptable. “On one hand, the authorities have failed to control the prices of essential commodities; on the other hand, the government is hiking the prices of gas refills and electricity,” they said.
