Jammu & Kashmir Congress Takes to the Streets: Marches Against Harsh Governance Measures

04-08-2023 : On Friday, the Congress party in Jammu organized a protest march against the Union territory administration and the BJP-led central government. Led by the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president Waqar Rasool Wani and working president Raman Bhalla, a large number of Congress workers assembled at the party office at Shaheedi Chowk and began marching towards the Raj Bhawan.

However, their march was halted by a significant contingent of state police deployed on Residency Road, preventing the protesters from reaching the Raj Bhawan. Undeterred, the demonstrators raised slogans against the BJP and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir while demanding the rollback of various decisions, including the installation of smart electricity meters, withdrawal of old-age pension, and imposition of property tax.

Addressing reporters during the protest, Raman Bhalla expressed concern over the harsh realities faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir due to the absence of an elected government. He emphasized that the LG administration should reconsider measures that adversely affect the poor and vulnerable sections of society.

The Congress party highlighted the exploitation of the people through various taxes, including power tariffs, toll taxes, and property taxes, resulting in soaring prices of essential commodities. They called for the early conduct of assembly elections and the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

In a month-long protest campaign across the region, the Congress aims to raise pressing issues such as price rise, the introduction of smart meters, imposition of property tax, withdrawal of pension for widows and senior citizens, and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.