The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party on Monday held separate protests in Srinagar against the recently approved increase in electricity tariff in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PDP staged a protest at its party headquarters in Srinagar, where party workers and leaders carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the National Conference-led government over the tariff hike.
The protesters accused the government of burdening consumers with higher electricity charges and questioned the decision to increase tariffs despite the National Conference having made promises regarding free electricity during the election campaign.
At the Press Enclave in Srinagar, a separate protest was led by Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Muhammad Ashraf Mir. Party workers carrying placards and banners raised slogans against the government and opposed the electricity tariff revision.
Protesters also raised slogans including “Omar Teri Sarkar Mein Andhera Hi Andhera Hai” while criticizing the government over the increase in power tariffs.
The protests come after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved an average 6.83 per cent increase in the retail electricity tariff for JPDCL and KPDCL, with the revised rates scheduled to come into effect from September 1.
The protesting parties demanded that the government reconsider the tariff increase and take measures to prevent additional financial burden on electricity consumers. [KNT]
