AJKTWA condemns attack on Dr. Farooq Abdullah; Welcomes 18 pc tariff revision

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA) has strongly condemned the recent alleged assassination attempt on veteran political leader Farooq Abdullah.
The statement was issued by the Association under the leadership of its Chairman Karan Singh Wazir, who termed the incident a serious and unacceptable act that threatens peace and stability in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the transport fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir, Wazir described the attack as a dastardly act that must be thoroughly investigated. He stressed that any attempt on the life of a leader of Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s stature-recognized nationally and internationally-raises serious concerns about the security environment in the region. He urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify the perpetrators and also examine whether any lapses in security arrangements contributed to the incident.
Wazir further stated that Dr. Farooq Abdullah has consistently advocated for peace, harmony and development in Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, any attempt to harm such a leader is not only an attack on an individual but also an attempt to disrupt the peace and stability of the region. He expressed hope that strict action would be taken against those responsible so that such incidents are prevented in the future.
Addressing another key issue concerning the transport sector, Wazir welcomed the recently announced 18 percent tariff revision by the government led by Omar Abdullah. While acknowledging that the revision may not fully meet the long-standing demands of the transport community, he described it as a positive and much-needed step toward providing relief to transport operators.
He explained that transporters across Jammu and Kashmir have been facing significant financial challenges in recent years due to various factors, including incidents of terrorism and natural calamities that have disrupted business and affected livelihoods. In this situation, the tariff revision will offer some relief and help sustain the transport sector.
Wazir also expressed gratitude to Satish Sharma, the Transport Secretary, the Transport Commissioner, and all Regional Transport Officers for their role in implementing the revised tariff structure. He noted that transport tariffs had not been revised for the past five years, which had placed considerable financial pressure on transporters.
Members of the association present on the occasion included Vijay Singh Chib, Labh Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Niranjan Singh, K.D. Singh, Vijay Dogra, Shanti Saroop, Sanjeev Choudhary and Balbir Singh. The Association reiterated its commitment to working closely with the government to address the concerns of transporters and ensure the steady growth and stability of the transport sector in Jammu and Kashmir.