Srinagar, June 26: Continuing its series of district-level protests across the valley, the Apni Party on Monday held rallies in Kupwara, Anantnag and Shopian districts.
“The rallies were organised with the aim of registering a strong protest against the administrative failure to provide an adequate supply of rations and other essential commodities, as well as uninterrupted power and drinking water supply, to the consumers,” the party said in a statement issued here.
Party’s district president Kupwara, Raja Manzoor, led a procession in Kupwara town. It was joined by all district leaders and workers of the party, as well as local residents. On the occasion, Manzoor, while talking to the reporters, said, “The people are facing immense hardships and inconveniences as they receive meagre rations at the ghats. Moreover, frequent power outages and severe shortages of clean drinking water persist in many areas. Despite our persistent demands for an adequate supply of these essential commodities, the concerned officials have shown a disregard for the legitimate demands of the public.”
In Anantnag, party district president Abdul Rahim Rather led the protest rally. He said, “People across the Anantnag district are grappling with the problems caused by the decrease in the ration quota. The ration has been reduced by over 50% following the withdrawal of the Jammu and Kashmir Food Entitlement Scheme (JKFES) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY), which has left the consumers highly distressed. Rice is the staple diet of the people in the Valley, and its shortage has caused starvation for most of the population, especially the poor; hence, it needs to restore the supplies as per the earlier given quota to alleviate their plight.”
In the Shopian district, the general secretary of the party’s youth wing and vice chairman of DDC Shopian, Irfan Manhas, led a protest demonstration demanding an ample amount of food supplies and an uninterrupted power supply for the residents. Manhas appealed to the LG administration to take the necessary measures to ensure a sufficient power supply and an adequate ration quota for consumers.
