Srinagar, August 24: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), headed by former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, staged separate protests in Srinagar on Monday against the recent increase in electricity rates.
The PDP demonstration took place at the party headquarters, where leaders and activists rallied with banners and placards, vocally opposing the National Conference (NC) government. Protesters accused the government of imposing an additional financial burden on consumers and questioned why electricity rates were raised despite promises of free electricity during the election campaign.
Meanwhile, another protest led by JKAP leader Mohammad Ashraf Mir occurred at the Press Enclave on Residency Road. Party workers carried banners and chanted slogans against the hike in electricity rates. During the protest, activists criticized the Chief Minister and condemned the government’s decision to raise electricity prices.
These protests followed the approval of an average 6.83 percent increase in retail electricity rates for JPDCL and KPDCL by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission. The revised rates are set to take effect on September 1.
Both parties have urged the government to reconsider its decision on the rate hike and avoid imposing additional financial burdens on consumers.
In the meantime, discontented National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi also harshly criticized the Omar Abdullah-led government. He stated that the government has reneged on its electoral promise of providing free electricity by raising rates across Jammu and Kashmir.
Ruhullah mentioned in a conversation with reporters that he is contemplating resigning from the Lok Sabha, expressing frustration over the party’s failure to fulfill the promises made in its electoral manifesto.
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