Srinagar: Police on Thursday foiled the Apni Party’s proposed protest against “acute power outages” in Kashmir and snapping of supply to the poor consumers who have not paid their monthly electricity bills.
Demanding restoration of power supply to low-income consumers, continuation of amnesty to the poor after March 2025 and the reduction of flat power bills to Rs 1200 per month, dozens of the Apni Party workers and activists this afternoon hit streets, asking the government to shun its “rigid policy”.
Holding placards which read “slash down power tariffs, stop harassing poor and extend amnesty after March 2025”, the Apni Party workers said their protest against the government’s “anti-poor policy” will continue till their demands including that of extending amnesty scheme beyond March 2025 and restoration of power supply to low-income consumers are not fulfilled.
However, policemen deployed in advance stopped the Apni Party workers led by the party state secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin and other senior leaders, in their tracks as they tried to march towards Press Enclave.
“The present dispensation in J&K has failed on all fronts, and every pledge they made in their election manifesto has turned out to be a farce. The impoverished crave for power and water, but their connections have been severed. What kind of governance is this?” questioned Mohiuddin.
The Apni Party leader asked the government to continue the amnesty scheme for the poor beyond March 2025 till 200 free power units as promised by the ruling party are provided to consumers. He also asked the government to restore power supply to those whose connections have been severed for non-payment of bills.
“Let everyone observe the upcoming month of holy Ramazan without any problems. What stops you from restoring the power supply of the poor whose connections were snapped by the PDD? Let the amnesty continue till this government provides 200 free electricity units,” he said.
