Protest demonstrations were held in Srinagar and Rajouri areas of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the anti-people policies of the authorities.
The residents of Hawal and its adjoining areas in Srinagar staged a demonstration against the installation of Smart Meters. The residents, mostly females, gathered at Hawal Chowk and chanted slogans to mark their protest. They said that they are poor and cannot afford payment of electricity bills generated through the Smart Meters.
The protests blocked the Hawal road as they marched on the road against the move. In the last few weeks, there has been a spike in protests across the territory against the installation of Smart Meters.
Meanwhile, non-regular workers of the Power Development Department including daily wagers, need-based workers and casual labourers held a protest demonstration at the district headquarters in Rajouri pressing for their demand of regularisation.
The protesting workers reminded the authorities about their 2021 promise for fast-track regularisation. They said that during the 2021 agitation, a fast-track regularisation was assured by the authorities but this assurance has fallen flat and employees are awaiting their regularisation.
The protesters maintained that their colleagues become victims in accidents on a daily basis and many had lost their lives while hundreds of others are physically disabled now.
“We want to make it clear that all the daily wagers, need-based workers, and casual laborers are ready to go on indefinite strike if our genuine issues are not addressed,” the protesters said.—KMS
