Srinagar, Aug 23: The leaders of several political parties have condemned the police action on the protesters in Samba who demanded suspension of toll collection at Sarore Toll Plaza on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah condemned the police action on protesting youth. He said, “The youth were raising their voices against the toll collection at Lakhanpur, a practice that stands in blatant disregard of both standing guidelines and the assurances given by the Union government. There is no justification for taxing people when the roads are in shambles and the damaged bridge is causing immeasurable inconvenience. No reachout was made to the protesters, contrarily they were roughed up and arrested. The police action and the attitude of the administration is highly condemnable. I implore the administration to release the youth immediately and address their concerns humanely.”
Dr Farooq demanded immediate abolishment of the newly-imposed Property Tax, as well as the “illegal” toll plaza at Sarore. “The presence of such a toll plaza is not only causing undue financial burden on the citizens but also reflects a failure of the Lieutenant Governor administration to address critical issues within the region,” he said.
NC Provincial President Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta in a statement said the demand for the removal of the toll plaza from Sarore is “well-founded and reflects the concerns of the people”. He emphasized that the citizens’ peaceful demonstration of getting justice is a democratic right and should be met with understanding and cooperation.
Gupta criticized the silence of the J&K BJP leadership in the face of this serious issue, noting that the lack of acknowledgment or action from the ruling party’s representatives is contributing to the turmoil. He expressed his concern over the “boiling sentiment” in the entire Jammu region due to what he termed the BJP government’s “indifference” to the concerns of the citizens. Gupta demanded that the toll plaza at Sarore should be abolished with immediate effect in view of the just and genuine demand of the people of the Jammu region.
Apni Party on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the “illegal” collection of toll tax at Sarore Plaza. The protest, according to a party statement, was led by Provincial President Jammu and former minister S. Manjit Singh at Vijaypur.
The protesters shouted slogans against the NHAI and demanded that the “illegal” collection of the Toll Tax at Sarore must end. They said the government must take legal action against the people involved in harassing the people on the highway.
In his speech, the former minister expressed his anguish over the detention of protesters by the police in Samba who opposed the Sarore Toll Plaza and demanded their release from police custody. “We are living in a democratic state where the people have the right to oppose the anti-people policies and convince the government of the time in a peaceful manner about their resentment against the decision which is not in favour of the general masses,” he said.
He said that the work on Jammu Pathankot is in progress, and several portions of highway from Samba to Kathua are bumpy and the commuters face hardship to travel on the highway.
“It is unfair with the people and the people who travel on the Jammu-Samba-Kathua highway in a most uncomfortable situation with hours of jam and congestion. However, they are forced to pay the toll at Sarore despite the deterioration of the highway,” he said. He demanded an end to the collection of toll tax till the highway is completed.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti, has voiced her concerns regarding the toll taxes levied at Sarore in Jammu. In a recent tweet, Mufti criticized the Government of India (GOI) for what she describes as excessive toll charges, which she believes are burdening the people of Jammu.
In the tweet, Mufti referred to an “anti-people action” in the form of exorbitant toll taxes. “Despite ongoing protests against these toll charges, there has been no apparent response or resolution to address the issue,” she said.
The JKPDP President called upon Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, via the tweet, urging him to intervene and investigate the situation.
Several JKPCC leaders in Jammu on Wednesday visited District Jail Kathua to meet the detained YRS leaders while peacefully protesting for the abolition of Sarore toll Plaza.
The Congress leaders led by Bhalla were not allowed to meet arrested YRS activists prompting them to protest outside the jail, the party said in a statement.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla said, “BJP is facing unprecedented public resentment across J&K for its alleged anti-people policies BUT consistently remains in denial mode to address public issues on priority.”
“The ruling dispensation has not been able to live up to its promises of providing employment to youth, handholding of artisans and much-awaited relief to the poor and downtrodden sections of society. To cover up their failures further, the BJP is shying away from elections as the clouds of worry have surrounded them,” he said, adding, “Congress is committed to uplifting the poor and downtrodden sections of the society.”
