Kishtwar, June 20: A day after a protest rally in Doda, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) staged a massive demonstration here in Kishtwar on Tuesday, demanding compensation to the victims of the recent earthquakes in Kishtwar and Doda districts. The party also sought revocation of the curtailment order of ration in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest was led by senior party leadership, with workers and activists carrying placards and banners. DPAP vice chairman G M Saroori, chief spokesperson Salman Nizami, zonal president P R Manhas along with party workers marched in the town and staged a protest. Later, they submitted a memorandum to DC Kishtwar.
The DPAP leaders also demonstrated against the stopping of free ration distribution to the poor, reduction of monthly ration quota to consumers and imposition of property tax. “The demonstrations are part of the series of protests to be held across Jammu and Kashmir against the anti-people measures which are impacting common masses, be it price hike, electricity inflated bills, imposition of property tax and ration issue,” the party said in a statement issued here.
Addressing the protesters here, Saroori criticised the government for not providing any compensation to the recent earthquake victims in Kishtwar or Doda districts. Demanding immediate government intervention, Salman Nizami sought the establishment of a committee of seismologists and scientists to undertake immediate scientific study on recurrences of tremors in the Chenab Valley.
The DPAP leadership observed that stopping free ration to the poor would lead to starvation of 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 while on the other hand, the government is hiking the prices of gas refills and electricity,” the party said.
