Srinagar: Police on Tuesday foiled a protest by Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party against the proposed installation of smart water meters in Kashmir and the “unparalleled hike” in monthly power tariffs.
Led by the party senior leader, Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din, dozens of Apni Party workers congregated outside the party headquarters here, shouting slogans like “Wake up LG administration”, calling on the government to address the desperate economic conditions of the people in a humane manner.
The protesting Apni Party workers warned of stepping up their protest in the next few days if the government does not immediately roll back its decision of installing smart water meters and stop issuing inflated monthly power bills to consumers.
“By forcing its unilateral decisions upon the people” of Jammu and Kashmir, they claimed, “the LG government has miserably failed in earning their trust.”
However, before the Apni Party workers could march towards Lal Chowk, a pose of policemen deployed in advance sprung into action, forcing them to disperse.
“Apni Party will not allow the people of Kashmir to continue being victims. They were stunned by the governments’ recent decision to install smart water meters, adding to the already unpleasant experience caused by increased power tariffs,” Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din told reporters.
He said the Apni Party is committed to helping economically disadvantaged people of Kashmir and that the party would keep up its fight till the government reverses its “anti-people” decisions.
