STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: J&K National Conference (JKNC), Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu Bar and several other organizations have supported Jammu Bandh call of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu on August 26 against the toll collection at Sarore Toll Plaza and the installation of smart meters.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Provincial President Jammu along with Abdul Gani Malik former Minister and Zone President Udhampur Reasi, Surinder Choudhary Ex-MLC, Abdul Gani Teli Chairman OBC Cell, Vijay Lochan SC Cell, Zeeshan Rana and Th Yashu Vardhan Singh, Additional Spokesperson JKNC unanimously decided to extend their full support to the CCI Jammu.
Rattan Lal said that the CCI Jammu has been protesting in support of their genuine demands and he urged the LG Govt to give favorable consideration to their demands and be accepted at the earliest without further delay.
Congress announced to support tomorrow’s bandh call to seek unconditional release of detained YRS leaders, abolishing of Sarore toll plaza, besides on the issue of smart meters and property tax. This was announced on behalf of the party by JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma in a press briefing at party HQ in the afternoon.
Extending whole hearted support to the Bandh call Ravinder Sharma termed the arrest and detention of Youth leaders as illegal and arbitrary reflecting the hostile attitude of the LG administration towards the people’s protests on genuine issues.
He said the Congress is continuously protesting on these issues but now it has become a “Jan Andolan” and it should culminate into withdrawal of frivolous cases and unconditional release of all detained leaders, abolishing of toll plaza at Sarore, and withdrawal of orders of installation of smart meters and property tax.
The party appealed to the general public to fully support the bandh call and further strengthen the Jan Andolan, till all these genuine demands of public general are conceded.
Expressing anger over the adamant attitude adopted by the BJP-controlled administration to solve pressing issues like illegal collection of toll and installation of pre-paid electric smart meters, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) supported the bandh call given by Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) on Saturday.
“We extended our full support to the CCI call of Jammu bandh on Saturday. PDP workers would take out peaceful demonstration across the Jammu region against anti-people policies of the BJP-controlled administration”, spokesperson of PDP Varinder Singh Sonu said while addressing a press conference at Jammu.
J&K High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) Jammu also extended support to Jammu Bandh call of CCI.
Declaring its support, J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu President Sr. Advocate Vikram Sharma, in a press conference, said that the association is backing a Bandh scheduled for August 26, in response to escalating concerns surrounding the Sarore Toll Plaza and Smart Meters. Vikram Sharma called on the public and civil society to strengthen the Bandh’s impact by participating wholeheartedly. he also urged government for early resolution of grievances of civil society with respect to Sarore Toll Plaza and smart electric meters and also sought release of detained civil society members.
Various Sikh Organizations of J&K with one voice under the Chairmanship of Mohinder Singh Chief Organizer Bhai Kanahiya Nishkam Sewa Society J&K and Ex-member DGPC Jammu decided to support the Jammu Bandh call on 26th August to strengthen the voice of people and participate the protest demonstration against the ‘callous attitude’ of the central government as well as UT administration.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha Ambphalla Jammu unanimously decided to extend full support to the Bandh call given by the CCI which has already been endorsed by the Bar association Jammu and other civil society organizations.
Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu extended full support to the call for Jammu Bandh on August 26 given by the different organizations of Jammu, in solidarity with Yuva Rajput Sabha in particular and other people of Jammu region in general against the irrational and illegal collection of Toll Tax at Sarore Toll Plaza, despite of the claim by the Union Home Minister in Parliament and assurance by the UT government and the Lt Governor that the Toll Plaza will not be operationalised.
Jammu Province Peoples Forum (JPPF) an amalgam of various social commercial and other organizations in its recent meeting held unanimously decided to extend its support in favour of Jammu Bandh call given by different organizations.
M.S Katoch, Working President, said that in continuation to the conference held couple of days back regarding illegal Sarore Toll Plaza and removal of the same with immediate effect but nothing as of is done by the government so far.