Jammu, August 01, 2023 (PPI-OT): People from all walks of life including farmers continued the hunger strike at Ranbir Singh Pura against the fleecing of Kashmiris by the Modi regime in the name of installing smart meters and rising power tariffs. The regime is under fire for its drive to install smart meters, which is deemed as a prerequisite before privatizing the electricity department.

Scores of people, mostly women, came out on the roads to join the strike that has been going on for nine days. The protesters raised slogans against the implementation of the smart meters in the belt and slammed the authorities. Narinder Sharma, a local political leader, said, “If people in Kashmir did not allow them to install smart meters there, why are they forcing this installation in Jammu? We will not allow them to put up smart meters here.”

Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was held at Talab Tillo in Jammu against hefty power bills. The protesters raised slogans against the administration. Addressing the protesters, they lambasted the authorities for steeling Kashmiri people through hefty power bills.

Senior CPI-M leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami in a statement lambasted the Modi regime for introducing smart meters and said, “This is a direct result of privatisation of the electricity. Private companies are bound to increase the power tariff but the consumers are not in a position to pay hefty amounts, triggering protests in almost everywhere in J and K.” The Bar Association Samba also held a protest demonstration in front of SDM office, Ghagwal against the officer’s conduct with lawyers. The protesting lawhyers entered the office of SDM and exchanged a heated debate with her.

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