Samba, Aug 27: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister, S. Manjit Singh welcomed the release of Yuva Rajput Sabha leaders from Kathua jail on Sunday early morning.
While addressing a meeting at Vijaypur, the former minister said, “The government finally released the YRS leaders accepting the ground reality that the people from different segments of society cutting across the political parties have pressed for the demand to release YRS leaders and roll back the toll tax collection at Sarore as the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway is in shabby condition.”
The NHAI should construct the highway and complete it by that time, and the toll tax collection from the commuters should be stopped, he said. Singh appealed to the government to seriously consider the demand for the withdrawal of toll tax collection at Sarore which he termed “completely illegal” and said it needs to be stopped with immediate effect to restore the peaceful atmosphere.
He said the issues like installation of smart meters, excessive electricity bills, bad condition of the Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu-Srinagar national highway, toll plazas within 60 km have become the cause of harassment of the general people, poor phase of development and growing unemployment.
“Jammu will boil if the demands are not taken care of by the government. Ignoring the genuine and legal demands of the people will calm down the tempers,” he said and reminded that the delay in holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the reasons that the people are angry against the present form of government.
“All the issues should be left to be decided by an elected government in J&K. The elected representatives are responsible to the people, but the bureaucracy is not. Hence, the restoration of the democratic system is essential to unrest in Jammu,” he added.
